Geoffrey Baer investigates why the Loop’s streets honoring presidents don’t honor the order of their terms, returns to a North Side bridge to nowhere, and relates the sad story of the “radium girls” of Ottawa, Illinois.

Navigating the Norwood Park neighborhood can be gnarly. Geoffrey Baer is here with all the twists and turns in this Northwest Side enclave’s history in this week’s edition of Ask Geoffrey.

A viewer wonders what became of a Chicago burger chain that borrowed its name from a cartoon moocher. Geoffrey Baer serves up some hamburger history.

Geoffrey Baer solves the mystery of a viewer’s “vague memory” from the 1940s, revisits an exhibit at the Century of Progress and opens the door to the Evanston History Center.

In the 1940s, a theater in the Loop was providing nightly news updates, and a professional cyclist was cleaning up with his Chicago chain of dry cleaning stores. Geoffrey Baer raises the curtain on these local history stories in this encore edition of Ask Geoffrey.

The Cubs rally brought throngs of fans to Grant Park. But was it really the biggest gathering ever in Chicago? Geoffrey Baer counts heads in this week’s Ask Geoffrey.

Secret handshakes, arcane symbols and initiation rites are all hallmarks of the Freemasons, an organization shrouded in mystery. Geoffrey Baer talks about the Freemasons and their history in Chicago.

Geoffrey Baer answers your questions about Navy Pier and previews his new documentary about the Pier that premieres Thursday night.

Lake Calumet has changed shape and purpose many times over the years. Geoffrey Baer takes a look at its past and future in this week’s edition of Ask Geoffrey.

Before automobiles, Chicago basically ran on horsepower. Find out how the city kept its streets free of manure in this week’s edition of Ask Geoffrey.

Chicago women had a professional baseball league of their own in the 1940s and '50s. We revisit Geoffrey Baer's story of the National Girls Baseball League.

In this week's edition of “Ask Geoffrey,” find out the “hole” story about the spire that was not to be.

Not that long ago, air pollution from burning coal made the Windy City more like the Smoggy City. Geoffrey Baer tells us how Chicago cleaned up its act, and shares other stories about Chicago history in this encore edition of Ask Geoffrey.

The largest passenger ship to operate in the Great Lakes stopped at Navy Pier in the 1950s. Geoffrey Baer dives into the history of the S.S. Aquarama and more.

Did a used-car salesman design and build his sleek and sporty luxury car right here in Chicago? Geoffrey Baer has that story and more.

Geoffrey Baer tracks down answers for three questions about Chicago's bygone streetcar heyday.