Today in Chicago History

A captive balloon and Ferris wheel are at the World's Columbian Exposition of 1893 in Chicago. (Library of Congress)

Today in Chicago History: Ferris wheel debuts at World’s Columbian Exposition

By Kori Rumore

June 15, 2026 at 4:00 a.m.

Here's a look back at what happened in the Chicago area on June 15, according...

Michael Spilotro, left, and his brother Tony at the Leighton Criminal Court Building on March 18, 1983, in Chicago. (Phil Greer/Chicago Tribune)

Today in Chicago History: Spilotro brothers buried alive in Indiana cornfield in a scene out of ‘Casino’

By Kori Rumore

June 14, 2026 at 4:00 a.m.

Here's a look back at what happened in the Chicago area on June 14, according...

Spontaneous embraces were the order of the day during the Vietnam Veterans Welcome Home Parade on June 13, 1986, in Chicago. (Phil Greer/Chicago Tribune)

Today in Chicago History: City cheers Vietnam veterans during a 5-hour parade — 11 years after the war

By Kori Rumore

June 13, 2026 at 4:00 a.m.

Here's a look back at what happened in the Chicago area on June 13, according...

As many as 1 billion TV viewers worldwide are estimated to have seen views of the Chicago skyline during telecasts of the World Cup's opening ceremony on June 17, 1994, at Soldier Field. (Eduardo Contreras/Chicago Tribune)

Vintage Chicago Tribune: When the city hosted the 1994 FIFA World Cup at Soldier Field

By Kori Rumore

May 28, 2026 at 3:15 p.m.

Crowds, and world leaders, showed up in force to celebrate the five countries whose World...

Former U.S. House Speaker Dennis Hastert, who is accused of evading bank regulations and lying to the FBI in a hush money case, leaves after his arraignment at the Dirksen Courthouse before Judge Thomas M. Durkin on June 9, 2015. (Terrence Antonio James/Chicago Tribune)

Today in Chicago History: Ex-US House Speaker Dennis Hastert charged with lying to FBI

By Kori Rumore

May 28, 2026 at 4:00 a.m.

Here's a look back at what happened in the Chicago area on May 28, according...

Looking north from the bottom left of the midway are the famous Travel and Transport Building, the Chrysler Motors Building and Northerly Island at top right, where the Sky Ride can be faintly seen at the Century of Progress World's Fair. (Chicago Tribune historical photo)

Today in Chicago History: Century of Progress — the city’s second world’s fair — opens with parade

By Kori Rumore

May 27, 2026 at 4:00 a.m.

Here's a look back at what happened in the Chicago area on May 27, according...

Buckingham Fountain is under construction, circa 1926. (Chicago Tribune historical photo)

Today in Chicago History: Buckingham Fountain opens

By Kori Rumore

May 26, 2026 at 4:00 a.m.

Here's a look back at what happened in the Chicago area on May 26, according...

Dan Goodwin makes his way up the Sears Tower on May 25, 1981, as would-be rescuers wait on scaffolding. But the 25-year-old daredevil from Las Vegas rushed by them and waved on his way to the top of the giant building, the world's tallest. (Walter Kale/Chicago Tribune)

Today in Chicago History: ‘Spider’ Dan Goodwin scales the Sears Tower, then the world’s tallest building

By Kori Rumore

May 25, 2026 at 4:00 a.m.

Here's a look back at what happened in the Chicago area on May 25, according...

Harry Aleman, center, leaves court after his May 24, 1977, acquittal in the shotgun slaying of a union official. He was later retried and found guilty of the crime. (Hardy Wieting/Chicago Tribune)

Today in Chicago History: Hit man Harry ‘The Hook’ Aleman acquitted — after Judge Frank Wilson was bribed

By Kori Rumore

May 24, 2026 at 4:00 a.m.

Here's a look back at what happened in the Chicago area on May 24, according...

High above Marriott's Great America in Gurnee, Jerry Stockdale takes a break from painting the American Eagle roller coaster in April 1981, which is scheduled to roar to life in May. At least 9,000 gallons of white paint were needed to spruce up the 127-foot tall ride, which took more than 20,000 hours to construct. (Walter Kale/Chicago Tribune)

Today in Chicago History: American Eagle roller coaster opens at Marriott’s (now Six Flags) Great America

By Kori Rumore

May 23, 2026 at 4:00 a.m.

Here's a look back at what happened in the Chicago area on May 23, according...

Officers remove a body from the wreckage of a Continental Airlines passenger plane, which crashed in a farm field in Unionville, Missouri, south of the Iowa town of Centerville, on May 22, 1962. Wreckage of the plane was strewn along a 10-mile path. (AP)

Today in Chicago History: Passenger’s dynamite causes midair explosion on plane that departed O’Hare

By Kori Rumore

May 22, 2026 at 4:00 a.m.

Here's a look back at what happened in the Chicago area on May 22, according...

Great America's newest ride, the Tidal Wave, was inaugurated at the Gurnee amusement park, May 6, 1978. Hailed as the world's largest roller coaster, the 76-foot high vertical loop catapults riders at 55 miles an hour into a 142-foot incline that is banked at 70 degrees. (Walter Kale/Chicago Tribune)

Vintage Chicago Tribune: Major milestones in Six Flags Great America’s 50-year run

By Kori Rumore

May 21, 2026 at 5:30 p.m.

Here's a look back at major milestones in Six Flags Great America's five-decade history.

Richard Loeb, left, and Nathan Leopold Jr., 19, right, during the time of their trial for the murder of Bobby Franks in 1924. (Chicago Tribune historical photo)

Today in Chicago History: ‘Perfect murder’ of Bobby Franks by Nathan Leopold and Richard Loeb

By Kori Rumore

May 21, 2026 at 4:00 a.m.

Here's a look back at what happened in the Chicago area on May 21, according...