The morning of December 1, 1958, witnessed a catastrophic fire at Our Lady of the Angels school in Chicago’s Humboldt Park. Ninety-two children and three nuns perished in the blaze. In the years since, survivors, their families, and those w…

Since its inception, Chicago has borne the burden of its own waste. Residents and industries alike discharged refuse directly into the Chicago River, which then emptied into Lake Michigan. This practice poisoned the city's water supply, fos…

In 1864, the formidable industrialist and engineer George Pullman transformed overnight train travel with his innovative sleeping cars, where passengers enjoyed service from a workforce largely comprised of formerly enslaved people, now kno…

For twenty-one years, Richard J. “Boss” Daley, the enduring mayor of Chicago, pursued a grand vision for the city's downtown, demonstrating an unwavering determination to achieve it. His ambitious urban renewal projects fundamentally reshap…

Born into a life of comfort and advantage, Jane Addams developed a keen interest in social reform after witnessing the conditions in a settlement house in London’s impoverished East End. An inheritance allowed her to translate that insight …

Brach's, Mars, Wrigley – these are but a few of the confectionery businesses that have made Chicago their home. By the time of the 1893 World's Fair, over a hundred candy companies thrived in the city, crafting beloved treats like Baby Ruth…

Danny Sotomayor moved through the world with purpose. A passionate, openly gay activist, he was a political cartoonist and organizer who took to the streets, employing civil disobedience to challenge city officials who dismissed the LGBTQ c…

Before the advent of online shopping and the rise of Amazon, the catalog reigned supreme. Two Chicago-based mail-order empires, Sears, Roebuck and Montgomery Ward, were instrumental in bringing goods and services to a wide audience. *Chicag…