A Chicago Heiress Made Miniature Murder Scenes and Forensic Science Was Born
Do you think you could solve a murder just by looking at a miniature re-creation of the crime scene? Frances Glessner Lee thought so. The Chicago heiress is known as the “mother of forensic science” for developing the tool that taught law enforcement how to investigate the scenes of unexplained deaths. The historic Glessner House in South Loop, where Lee’s family lived from 1887–1937, now has a life-sized version of one of her miniatures on display, free to view on Fridays and Saturdays through April 14. Producer Simone Alicea visited Glessner House last year and talked with executive director Bill Tyre.
This conversation was originally published March 24, 2022.
Good News: C2E2 is March 31–April 2! Listen to our episode visiting C2E2’s return to McCormick Place in!
Want some more City Cast Chicago news? Then make sure to sign up for our Hey Chicago newsletter.
Follow us @citycastchicago
You can also text us or leave a voicemail at: 773 780-0246
Interested in advertising with City Cast? Find more info HERE
Want to know what's happening in Chicago? Sign up for our free newsletter, Hey Chicago. Packed with local news, curated event recs, local life hacks, and more, it's your daily toolkit for getting the most out of the city you love.
Latest Episodes
Migrant 'Base Camps,' Future of Tipping, and Soccer at Soldier Field
Mayor Brandon Johnson’s administration is defending the decision to sign a one-year, nearly $30 million contract with controversial private ...
'Do You Remember' Why It's Earth, Wind & Fire Day?
Today is Earth, Wind & Fire Day. Founded in Chicago by the late band leader Maurice White in 1969, the legendary group has sold over 100...
‘Young Love’ Is TV’s Newest Chicago Love Letter
Matthew Cherry’s short film “Hair Love” won an Oscar and became a New York Times bestselling children’s book. Now the writer, director, and ...
Obama Center Housing Protections, Your Fav Chi Dates, Say Goodbye to Summer
Last week, Fifth Ward Ald. Desmon Yancy introduced the South Shore Housing Preservation Ordinance to City Council. The measure would provide...
How Will Mayor Johnson Close Chicago’s Budget Gap?
Budget season has officially begun! Mayor Brandon Johnson released his first budget forecast last week, kicking off his first budget process...
New Migrant Shelter Plan, Riot Fest Weekend, and Celebrating Mexican Independence Day
Mayor Brandon Johnson has outlined a plan to relocate nearly 1,600 migrants and asylum-seekers from Chicago police stations to what he calls...
Who Can Plan The Best Chicago Alphabet Dates?
In a twist on the “alphabet dating” TikTok trend, host Jacoby Cochran and City Cast marketing coordinator Jermaine Thomas faced off last wee...
How One Pilsen Home Became a Butterfly Sanctuary
Been seeing more monarch butterflies lately? Now is the time when Illinois’ state insect migrates south toward Mexico. Along the way, many w...
911 Response Times, Student Loan Questions, and Foxes vs. Plovers
Chicago Inspector General Deborah Witzburg reports police failed to accurately track 911 response times nearly half time. The lack of data m...
What Do Local School Councils Do?
Next week, Chicago Public Schools will kick off election season for local school councils. The councils help drive big decisions across Chic...