The Chicago of 1871 Was Built to Burn
It’s been 150 years and the origin story of the Great Chicago Fire still relies on Catherine O’Leary’s cow kicking over a lantern and setting the city ablaze. While there’s still some mystery around what actually happened that fateful October day, what is clear is that the bias against Irish Catholic immigrants served as a perfect scapegoat for the fire, and it parallels the way some populations are affected more negatively than others in natural disasters. Host Jacoby Cochran spoke with Julius Jones, curator of Chicago History Museum’s new exhibit “City on Fire: Chicago 1871,” about what the city was like in 1871 and who the 100,000 residents who lost their homes were.
Guest: Julius Jones — Assistant Curator, Chicago History Museum
Follow us on Twitter: @CityCastChicago
Sign up for our newsletter: chicago.citycast.fm
Subscribe To Our Newsletter
Stay connected to City Cast Chicago and get ready to join the local conversation.
Latest Episodes
Can Mayoral Candidates Double Dip? Plus, Ford City’s Future
Mayoral candidate Bill Quinlan’s lawsuit aims to block Illinois Secretary of State Alexi Giannoulias, U.S. Rep. Mike Quigley, and Cook Co...
How Chicago Latinos Are Changing Neighborhoods
Little Village was once known as the city's largest Latino neighborhood, but a new report found Belmont Cragin now has the largest Latino...
Art Institute Returns Nazi-Looted Painting. Plus, Fourth Shedd Beluga Dies
The Art Institute of Chicago is returning a 113-year-old painting to the family of its original owner after an investigation revealed it...
Why Are There Sukkahs in North Lawndale? Plus, Chicago’s Queer-Affirming Churches
Contributors Anna DeShawn and Adora Namigadde join us with picks from the Chicago Underground and International Film Festivals. Plus, we...
Are Illinois’ County Jails in Crisis? Plus, Big Changes at MSI
Following a historic number of deaths in 2023, growing concerns over standards violations, and an investigation into ongoing unreporting,...
Where Are the Flock Cameras? Plus, Circus on the River
Today we’re talking about the rise of Flock automatic license plate reading cameras on college campuses, including at the University of I...
More Chicagoans Can’t Afford Food. Plus, Fall Storefront Theater
This year, Chicagoans have seen more grocery stores close on the South and West Sides, SNAP benefits stripped from tens of thousands of h...
Who Owns the Word 'Dope'? Plus, Chicago's Divviest Summer Ever
Today we’re talking about a local historian’s fascinating copyright battle, the rise of microcinemas and film clubs, and the ‘Divvyficati...
Who’s Building Guerrilla Bus Benches in Ukrainian Village? Plus, Fall in the Air
A neighborhood group is building bus benches in Ukrainian Village. But will the city remove the unauthorized infrastructure? Executive pr...
Who’s All Running For Mayor? Plus, Live From Printers Row
Mayor Brandon Johnson has officially announced his campaign for a second term in office. He enters alongside more than a dozen challenger...