“It’s Not Easy Being Green”: The Decline Of Frogs In Chicago
Frogs have been on the decline in the Chicago area. The health of the frog population tells us a lot about the health of our environment.
Episodes
Curious City
Ask questions, vote and discover answers about Chicago, the region and its people. From WBEZ.
Episodes
“Spooky and salacious:” Do we need to rethink prison tourism?
It’s spooky season, a time when we often visit haunted houses and think about the paranormal. And if you live in the Chicago area, you’ve probably seen billboards and ads for the Old Joliet Haunted Prison. But at one point, it was an actual prison. Whether you believe in ghosts or not, questions about the paranormal can serve as an entry into the historical context of a place. Last episode, we visited the Old Joliet Prison to look into a lister’s question about whether it’s haunted. And that got...
Who Or What Haunts The Old Joliet Prison?
The Old Joliet Prison has been around since the 1800s. Some visitors swear they’ve experienced the paranormal there. But do ghost stories detract from the specter of a truly dark history?
What Does "Chicagoland" Mean, And Where Did It Come From?
The origins of "Chicagoland" can be traced back to nearly 100 years ago. Back then, it encompassed an area that went beyond the suburbs.
This Episode Is Garbage
Chicago collects thousands of tons of garbage each year. We answer some questions about garbage, and follow an all-women collection crew on the job.
The Legacy Of Margaret Burroughs
Margaret Burroughs is well known as the founder of the DuSable Museum. Perhaps lesser known is her decades long work teaching art to incarcerated men. In collaboration with the Burroughs Legacy Project at the Invisible Institute, we hear reflections from Burroughs' former students.
Cardinal Club Was Polish Rock 'N' Roll Heaven In Chicago
Polish immigrants came to Chicago to make a living, and for a time, they got to hang out every weekend with some of Poland’s biggest stars at a small club in the city.
What Was Schwinn's Legacy In Chicago?
It's easy to spot a vintage Schwinn bike zooming around the city. The family business was rooted in Chicago.
Not Their First "Roadeo"
CTA workers compete against each other to see who is the best bus driver, train operator, mechanic and janitorial staff. The annual competition dates back to the early 1980s.
The Case Of The Chicago Mothman
There have been reports of a strange winged creature around the Chicago area. We try to find out what the heck is going on.
How Does Sound Travel In The City?
Listening to an outdoor concert is a typical Chicago summer activity. But hearing that concert a few neighborhoods away? We look at how sound travels in the city.
Chicago Once Had An “Ugly Law”
Many cities around the country once had a so-called ugly law that targeted poor and disabled people. Chicago’s law stayed on the books until the 1970s.
"Radium Girls" Had A Tragic Glow
In the 1920s, young women working at a radium dial company in Ottawa, Illinois were being poisoned. Surviving "radium girls" would go on to participate in studies at Argonne National Laboratory.
How Did Malört Become Chicago's Drink?
The bitter liquor has been around for about a century, but Malört's rise to Chicago icon status is a more recent story.
What Lessons Were Learned From The '68 DNC In Chicago?
As Chicago prepares to host the Democratic National Convention, we look back at a volatile year: 1968.
Did Soccer Have A Golden Age In Chicago?
Soccer is popular in Chicago, but it falls behind the popularity of sports like football, baseball and basketball. But in the 1920s, the popularity of soccer rivaled that of baseball.
What's Up With All The Fake Lakes?
Cook County has a lot of artificial lakes. Many of them were once large pits left behind by major construction projects. Now, they serve as habitats for wildlife and recreation for residents.
Why Are There So Many Irish Pubs In Chicago?
Many Irish immigrants settled in Chicago in the late 1800s, and opened up pubs to make a living, but for a sense of community. We explore the history and why there are so many Irish pubs today.
Why Is The Only North American Baháʼí Temple In Wilmette?
The huge, gleaming Baháʼí House of Worship for North America definitely stands out from its suburban lakefront surroundings. It’s the oldest Baháʼí temple in the world, and it’s also known as the holiest. But why is it in Wilmette, Illinois?
Reflecting On More Than 10 Years Of Curious City
As Curious City goes through some changes, we take some time to look back and reflect on more than a decade of answering listeners' questions and lessons learned over the years.
What’s The Oldest Book In Circulation At The Chicago Public Library?
We go searching for the oldest book in circulation at the library, and find out how a title avoids the book “weeding” process.
The Underground Railroad Existed Throughout Illinois, Including In Chicago
It's difficult to find records of Underground Railroad activity in Chicago because the work was inherently dangerous. But some historical documents offer a glimpse.
Did Dinosaurs Ever Live In Chicago?
We went digging for dinosaur bones in Chicago and found a bunch of other fossils along the way. We explore the region's prehistoric activity, and we’ll hear about that one time a federal judge found a mastodon in his yard.
What Happened To Chicago’s Native American Neighborhood?
Chicago has enclaves for numerous communities throughout its 77 neighborhoods. In the mid-20th century, Uptown was the nucleus for Native Americans who relocated to the city. Learn how Uptown became a cultural hub and what happened to that enclave.
Bachelor’s Grove Cemetery: History, Hauntings, and Preservation
Bachelor’s Grove Cemetery in Midlothian is rumored to be haunted with alleged sightings of a woman in white. But there’s more to this place than spooky stories. Learn about the early settlers who called this place home and why a historian worries the ghost stories are overshadowing the history here.
The Curious Case Of The Swami Vivekananda Way Street Sign
Kids in India learn about Swami Vivekananda like kids in the U.S. learn about Abraham Lincoln. So how is it that he has his own honorary Chicago street sign? Find out about the monk who introduced Hinduism to the West, his deep ties to the city, and...what exactly happened to that sign.
Is This Your Card? A Brief History Of Chicago-style Magic
Chicago-style magic is close up, funny and usually performed at a bar or restaurant. We learn about its history and talk to several magicians who are part of the tradition.
The Mayor, The Prince, and the Gift That Invaded Japan’s Biggest Lake
In October 1960, Prince Akihito of Japan visited Chicago for 21 hours. Chicago’s mayor presented the prince with a diplomatic gift: 18 bluegill. What happened next would change the underwater world of Japan forever.
Who’s A Good Boy: A Look At Chicago’s Top Dog Breeds
Pit bulls are the number one dog breed in Chicago. We take a trip to the animal shelter to find out why, and we follow one pup as he attempts to find a forever home.
What's That Dead Zone In The 19th Ward?
There’s a hole in the map of Chicago. It turns out, it’s a cemetery. But there are many other cemeteries in Chicago that don’t show up as holes on the map, so what’s up with this one? We take you to the 19th Ward and explore the history of this dead zone.