Standing on history: Who built Chicago’s WPA sidewalks?
Have you ever noticed a branded stamp in the sidewalk? Keen-eyed Chicagoans have found some that date back to Depression-era infrastructure...
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Curious City
Ask questions, vote and discover answers about Chicago, the region and its people. From WBEZ.
Curious City Podcast Guide
Listen to Curious City, a Arts podcast by WBEZ Chicago. Stream 647 episodes in English, follow new audio stories, and play episodes online on Radio and Podcast.
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Browse this show under Arts podcasts.
Episodes
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Episodes
20 of 647 episodes‘This is how I speak’: The influence of the Black Chicago accent
A person’s accent can influence the way they are perceived. When it comes to broadcast journalism, the way a person talks is front and cente...
How has the Black Chicago accent retained its Southern roots?
How have Black Chicagoans kept so many features of the Southern dialect? To answer starts with the Great Migration.
The story of the Lady Elgin, the deadliest shipwreck in Great Lakes history
The Lady Elgin left Chicago for Milwaukee on a stormy September night in 1860 with around 400 passengers aboard. Another vessel was also out...
What are Chicago area lighthouses used for?
Lighthouses were manned by keepers until automation took over. Now, preservationists are working to restore Chicago’s most iconic one.
How early Black Chicagoans used photography to redefine their image
At the turn of the 20th century, Black photographers were starting to make a name for themselves. Photographers like William E. Woodard, Jam...
What was Chicago's first art gallery?
What was Chicago's first art gallery? Curious City investigates. Nowadays, it’s easy to see and experience art all over Chicago. But where d...
Chicago came under martial law after the Great Fire. Did it help?
The mayor of Chicago declared martial law after the Great Fire in 1871. The military occupation ended days later, after the death of a civil...
The ‘windmill capital of the world’ used to be down the road from Chicago
Suburban Batavia, just 30 miles west of Chicago, used to be known as the windmill capital of the world. But eventually, technological advanc...
Why aren’t there wind turbines in Lake Michigan?
Strong and consistent winds that sweep across Lake Michigan could provide significant electricity generation. But there are no wind turbines...
No cars, no road salt: How one Midwestern community avoids salt all winter
Chicago — like so many other frigid American cities — can’t seem to kick its dependence on road salt. In our last episode, we learned how wi...
How does a mild winter affect Chicago’s economy?
Each Chicago winter’s wintery-ness has big implications for your sanity and your wallet. That led one Curious City listener to ask us if mil...
What was it like for women working in Hoover’s FBI?
For decades, the FBI was a man’s world. Anybody else was just living in it, especially the administrative staff. In the last episode, we lea...
Why did the FBI recruit girls from Catholic high schools?
For a few decades starting in the 1940s, the FBI recruited high school girls for clerical work. A Chicago Catholic school was a go-to spot t...
How Ella Jenkins’ Chicago childhood shaped her iconic children’s music
From school assemblies to “Mr. Rogers Neighborhood,” Ella Jenkins was a rhythm specialist and children’s music pioneer. Her childhood in Chi...
What's the first Chicago public school named in honor of a Black person?
Many of Chicago’s oldest schools are named after white men. The first named after a Black person goes back to the 1930s, and it came with so...
Why did Chicago widen Ashland Avenue?
If you pay attention to street signs in Chicago, you’ll notice imperfections and many quirks. Paul Durica of the Chicago History Museum said...
Why is Ashland Avenue sometimes Ashland Boulevard?
Ashland Avenue is one of the longest and oldest streets in Chicago, but sometimes it’s a boulevard. Is this a misprint? Or is this part of t...
We can’t name ‘em all, but here are some of Chicago’s greatest films
From high-speed chases to preposterous parades, Chicago dazzles on the silver screen. Last episode, we attempted to uncover the best movie e...
From ‘The Fugitive’ to ‘The Dark Knight,’ what’s the best movie filmed in Chicago?
It’s awards season. Time to look at some of the best movies filmed in Chicago.
Questions About Curious City
Where can I listen to Curious City episodes?
You can listen to Curious City episodes online on Radio and Podcast. Open an episode and the site player will stream the available audio.
What is Curious City about?
Curious City is listed as a Arts show. The show language is listed as English.
How many Curious City episodes are listed?
This page lists 647 episodes for Curious City. More episodes are available from the View more button when the list continues.