Chicago’s Hidden History
Chicago, known for its iconic skyline and scenic waterfront, has a lesser-known history as a hub for gangland activity. The city’s rapid growth after the Great Chicago Fire led to a rise in crime and corruption, with mobsters, thugs, and thieves ruling the city.
The Rise of Al Capone
Al Capone, a young hoodlum, rose to power in the Chicago mob alongside Johnny the Fox, but a rift developed when their mentor, Big Jim Colosimo, refused to enter the bootlegging trade, leading to his suspected murder by Capone and Johnny. Capone then became the king of Chicago’s underworld, owning numerous speakeasies, casinos, and brothels.
The Green Mill and Secret Tunnels
The Green Mill, a popular jazz club, was once owned by Machine Gun Jack McGurn, who worked for Al Capone, and provided a cover for Capone’s bootlegging operations. To evade Eliot Ness and the Untouchables, Capone transformed the club’s basement into secret vice lounges and an elaborate maze of escape tunnels.
The Levee District and Organized Crime
The Near South Side of Chicago, once known as the Levee District, was a notorious hub for crime and corruption in the early 20th century, attracting petty thieves, prostitutes, pimps, and infamous figures like Al Capone. The area was controlled by corrupt city officials who allowed and profited from illegal activities.
The Secret Subway System
Beneath the city, a covert subway system, spanning over 60 miles and running 40 feet underground, remains one of Chicago’s dark secrets. The tunnels, which connected various clubs and theaters, played a significant role in Capone’s success, helping him build an empire worth over $1 billion.
The Cullerton Hotel and Hidden Passageways
The Cullerton Hotel, located in Chicago’s Levee District, was a hub for underground rackets during the 1920s, with secret tunnels allowing patrons to escape quickly. After Al Capone’s arrest in 1931, the hotel and other rackets in the area declined, and legitimate businesses moved in, boarding up the tunnel network.
The Gray Wolves and Corruption
Corrupt politicians in Chicago, known as the Gray Wolves, built a secret tunnel system under the city to facilitate freight transportation and line their own pockets. The tunnels, which span 60 miles throughout downtown Chicago, were constructed in the 1870s to alleviate the chaos of wagons, horses, and streetcars above ground.
The Manhattan Project and Atomic Bomb
A team of scientists led by Enrico Fermi achieved a major breakthrough in developing the atomic bomb in a hidden laboratory beneath the University of Chicago’s football field, marking the beginning of the nuclear warfare era and changing the world forever.
Fermilab and Neutrino Research
Today, Fermilab, named after Fermi, continues to conduct atomic experiments underground, but with a focus on exploring new uses of atomic energy for knowledge about the origins of the universe. Scientists are studying neutrinos, basic subatomic particles created by radioactive decay and nuclear reactions, at a facility built 360 feet underground to avoid contamination from cosmic rays.
| Term | Definition | Example Usage |
|---|---|---|
| Bootlegging | The act of smuggling or transporting illegal goods, especially liquor, during the Prohibition era. | Al Capone’s bootlegging operations made him a wealthy and powerful figure in Chicago. |
| Speakeasy | A secret bar or nightclub that operated illegally during the Prohibition era. | The Green Mill was a popular speakeasy owned by Machine Gun Jack McGurn, who worked for Al Capone. |
| Untouchables | A team of federal agents, led by Eliot Ness, tasked with taking down Al Capone and his organized crime empire. | The Untouchables were determined to bring down Al Capone, but he evaded them through his secret tunnels and escape routes. |
| Levee District | A notorious area in Chicago’s Near South Side known for its crime, corruption, and organized crime activity during the early 20th century. | The Levee District was a hub for petty thieves, prostitutes, and pimps, and was controlled by corrupt city officials. |
| Gray Wolves | Corrupt politicians in Chicago who built a secret tunnel system under the city to facilitate freight transportation and line their own pockets. | The Gray Wolves constructed the tunnel system in the 1870s to alleviate the chaos of wagons, horses, and streetcars above ground. |
| Manhattan Project | A secret research and development project led by the United States during World War II that produced the atomic bomb. | A team of scientists led by Enrico Fermi achieved a major breakthrough in developing the atomic bomb in a hidden laboratory beneath the University of Chicago’s football field. |
| Neutrino | A basic subatomic particle created by radioactive decay and nuclear reactions. | Scientists at Fermilab are studying neutrinos at a facility built 360 feet underground to avoid contamination from cosmic rays. |
| Fermilab | A national laboratory in the United States that conducts research in particle physics, including the study of neutrinos and the origins of the universe. | Fermilab continues to conduct atomic experiments underground, but with a focus on exploring new uses of atomic energy for knowledge about the origins of the universe. |
| Prohibition | A period in the United States, from 1920 to 1933, during which the manufacture, sale, and transportation of intoxicating liquors were banned. | Al Capone’s rise to power was facilitated by the Prohibition era, which created a lucrative black market for liquor. |
| Organized Crime | A type of crime that involves a large, complex network of individuals and organizations working together to commit crimes, often with a hierarchical structure and code of conduct. | Al Capone’s organized crime empire in Chicago included a network of speakeasies, casinos, and brothels, and was protected by corrupt city officials. |
Chicago’s Hidden History Vocabulary Quiz
Test your knowledge of Chicago’s hidden history with this 5-question multiple-choice quiz.
Question 1: What does the term “bootlegging” refer to in the context of Al Capone’s activities?
A) The act of smuggling goods into the city through secret tunnels
B) The production and sale of illegal liquor during the Prohibition era
C) The operation of underground jazz clubs and casinos
D) The construction of a covert subway system beneath the city
Question 2: What was the name of the jazz club owned by Machine Gun Jack McGurn, which provided a cover for Al Capone’s bootlegging operations?
A) The Green Door
B) The Red Mill
C) The Green Mill
D) The Blue Note
Question 3: What was the name of the district on the Near South Side of Chicago that was a notorious hub for crime and corruption in the early 20th century?
A) The Levee District
B) The South Side District
C) The Near North Side
D) The Chicago Loop
Question 4: What was the name of the hotel located in Chicago’s Levee District that had secret tunnels allowing patrons to escape quickly?
A) The Cullerton Hotel
B) The Palmer House
C) The Drake Hotel
D) The Ambassador Hotel
Question 5: What was the name of the project led by Enrico Fermi that achieved a major breakthrough in developing the atomic bomb in a hidden laboratory beneath the University of Chicago’s football field?
A) The Manhattan Project
B) The Chicago Project
C) The Fermi Project
D) The Atomic Bomb Initiative
Answer Key:
1. B) The production and sale of illegal liquor during the Prohibition era
2. C) The Green Mill
3. A) The Levee District
4. A) The Cullerton Hotel
5. A) The Manhattan Project
Using the Past Perfect Continuous Tense to Describe Historical Events
| The past perfect continuous tense is used to describe an action that started before a specific time in the past and continued up to that time. It is often used to show cause and effect, or to provide background information. For example, “The city’s rapid growth after the Great Chicago Fire had led to a rise in crime and corruption” can be rephrased using the past perfect continuous tense as “The city had been growing rapidly after the Great Chicago Fire, leading to a rise in crime and corruption.” This tense is particularly useful when discussing historical events, as it allows us to describe the complex and often interconnected nature of these events. |
|---|
Quiz Time!
Choose the correct answer for each question:
1. By the time Al Capone was arrested in 1931, the city ____________________ to the rise of organized crime for over a decade.
A) had been responding
B) responded
C) was responding
D) has responded
2. The Green Mill, a popular jazz club, ____________________ as a cover for Capone’s bootlegging operations before it was raided by the police.
A) had been used
B) was used
C) has been used
D) is used
3. The Near South Side of Chicago, once known as the Levee District, ____________________ a notorious hub for crime and corruption in the early 20th century.
A) had become
B) was becoming
C) became
D) has become
4. By the time the Cullerton Hotel was closed, the tunnel network ____________________ for over 20 years.
A) had been used
B) was used
C) has been used
D) is used
5. The scientists at Fermilab ____________________ atomic experiments underground for several years before they made a major breakthrough in neutrino research.
A) had been conducting
B) were conducting
C) have been conducting
D) conduct
Answer Key:
1. A) had been responding
2. A) had been used
3. A) had become
4. A) had been used
5. A) had been conducting
