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Watch | Chicago Mysteries with Geoffrey Baer

Chicago Mysteries with Geoffrey Baer — Full Episode

Geoffrey Baer and a team of super sleuths attempt to solve Chicago’s baffling mysteries.

Full Show

Chicago Mysteries

Did a UFO fly over O’Hare Airport? How did the alligator later named “Chance the Snapper” suddenly appear in Chicago’s Humboldt Lagoon? Is Hull House haunted? Why don’t Chicagoans put ketchup on their hot dogs? WTTW award-winning host/writer/producer Geoffrey Baer sets out to solve these and other puzzlers in CHICAGO MYSTERIES. Audio-narrated descriptions of key visual elements are available.

From the Show

How did an alligator get into the Humboldt Park lagoon?

How did Chance the Snapper get into the Humboldt Park lagoon? Geoffrey Baer explores.

Is Hull House Haunted?

Geoffrey Baer visits Hull House to hear about the peculiar ghost stories from within.

Did Chicago's "Sausage King" really murder his wife?

Geoffrey Baer visits the scene of one of Chicago’s most stomach-churning crimes.

Why don’t Chicagoans put ketchup on their hot dogs?

Geoffrey Baer and Monica Eng explain why ketchup is a no-no on Chicago hot dogs.

The Foolkiller

What was the sunken vessel at the bottom of the Chicago River, and how did it get there?

The Leaning Tower of Niles

Why is there a leaning tower in Niles? Geoffrey Baer explores.

Why is Chicago’s oldest monument so hard to find?

Geoffrey Baer visits the city’s oldest monument, which is found in a peculiar location.

Why is a nuclear reactor buried in a forest preserve?

The world’s first nuclear reactor buried in a forest preserve? Geoffrey investigates.

The "Garlows" of Chatham

What is the story behind the tiny homes with big front yards in Chatham?

Why do diagonal streets cut through Chicago’s grid?

Many of Chicago’s diagonal streets were once Native American trails and trading routes.

Who is the author of encyclopedia on Chicago’s mobsters?

Geoffrey Baer speaks with the man who discovered a detailed manuscript of mobsters.

Is there a hidden message in the shadow of this sculpture?

Is there a hidden political message in the shadow of a University of Chicago sculpture?

The Mysteries of Graceland Cemetery

Geoffrey Baer uncovers some buried mysteries at Graceland Cemetery.

Why is there a lone tomb in Lincoln Park?

Why is there a mausoleum in Chicago’s Lincoln Park? Geoffrey Baer explores.

Was a UFO once spotted at O’Hare?

Was a UFO once spotted at O’Hare Airport? Geoffrey Baer investigates.

Bonus Features

What is the origin of a Dalí painting at the Art Institute?

Salvador Dalí’s Visions of Eternity perplexed Art Institute of Chicago curators.

What is a Chicago Handshake?

Malört and Old Style are a classic Chicago combo, but the ingredients are from elsewhere.

Why is there no Terminal 4 at O'Hare?

O'Hare's four terminals are numbered 1, 2, 3 and 5, but this wasn't always the case.

Does a concrete work of art contain a hidden manuscript?

Wolf Vostell covered objects in concrete. Is there anything inside his Betonbuch?

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