Listen to the story of Chicago told through 50 eloquent artifacts and survey real history in the form of a Potawatomi war club, an Art Deco armchair or an audio cassette that can still play the Super Bowl Shuffle.
When investigating the mysteries of Chicago's past, it's helpful to examine the physical evidence. From a fiddle played by a Chicago pioneer and a jersey worn by Michael Jordan to a relic of the Chicago fire and the guns used in the St. Valentine's Day massacre, these talismans chronicle the city's tragedies and triumphs. Some heirlooms shed new light on familiar figures like Louis Sullivan while others commemorate the contributions of less heralded visionaries like Frances Glessner Lee. Joseph Gusaitis explores Chicago's history through 50 carefully chosen objects, a collection that includes stockyard knives, the world's first portable radio and Nelson Algren's typewriter.