Started watching this and maybe 20 minutes in I'm feeling a deep sadness as I watch. My wife and I waited with baited breath for these Chicago area specials particularly in our early days of marriage before we could swing cable and channels 11 and 20 were practically welded to the TV. The deep,creeping sadness? Just realized this is my first time watching these since her sudden death in 2013.

Thanks again for putting these on KZfaq

Born in Chicago raised on the south side , I have Personal memories from every part mentioned. Lived in over half of every town mentioned. Was a great documentary.

I was raised in south Chicago and found this documentary very interesting. My ancestors settled in South Holland from Holland, they farmed and worked hard.

I love these programs. I watch them over and over again..

The more I watch Chicago videos. The more I miss it with my whole heart.... Florida just can't compete

We lived in Gary for one year when I was 9 years old. We moved to Lake Station (east Gary) because my dad wanted us to live in a rural community with fresh air and safe places to play. Later we moved to Portage Indiana. It was an ideal place to live. I couldn’t have asked for a nicer childhood! So many things have changed in the Chicago area including Chicago since they made this video.

Born in Blue Island where my mother was an ER nurse. Grew up in Homewood, Lansing and Munster/Hammond. I miss this place.

Born and raised in Hammond and I love Chicagoland so much! This video gave me a deeper appreciation of this beautiful area I call home - thank you!

Thanks for posting this interesting history of an overlooked part of Chicagoland.

My mom has lived in harvey illinois for over 30 years and my in-laws are in robbins illinois about 10years now,and I never knew these things about the town.maybe🤔 I will take my mom's house over when she's ready to go.alot of history their.thanks, for the history lesson. love, respect, and peace, to all living things.

I have been watching these shows since they first came out

90% of all youtubers need to listen to this guy's voice. pleasant, smart and he can read and write.

Thank you so much. I grew up in Park Forest. It was a wonderful place to live.

I'm a born and raised South Sider, driven over many of these roads and towns. He actually filmed a section less than 100 yards from the house I grew up in. This was filmed in 2004 for alk the people that didn't stay to the end.

I grew up in Lansing. We moved there from Cicero when I was about five years old. We played baseball all of the time. The schools were nice. People were friendly with their neighbors. We got part time jobs at Republic Steel, Youngstown, U.S. Steel. Thank you for this video. This video is truely amazing considering everything that it covers. I am very happy to share this video. I live in Thornton now, not far from the quarry. The dust from the trucks going in and out gets onto our parked cars. I went to Marian Catholic High Scool in Chicago Heights. We took a school bus there grom Lansing. It passed through Homewood.

Hi, from MI. Thank for these important and interesting videos that I learn So much from. I love the history of people, places of times gone by. I especially love all the beautiful footage and photographs right from that time as it really was. I wish I could have live back in time, maybe around the Victorian area. Thank you for all of your time, research and so much accurate information and how well you explain it all to us. It makes me feel like I'm there. The black n white photos are incredible to see. I like to watch these twice n always share these on FB so others can get a glimpse of life in the past as it was .

I grew up in Park Forest. I lived in the courts (the townhouses in the video) at first, and then on Marquette St. one block off of Sauk Trail. This was like going back home again. I miss the Plaza. Went to the movies there every Saturday for the matinees. They used to have a Santa house every Christmas season at the base of the clock tower. Good memories!

Fascination video! I'm an old south suburban boy. I was born in Blue Island and grew up in Dolton. As an adult, I lived in many of the cities you highlighted until I finally moved out of state for work. I already knew some of the things you shared while others were news to me. Thanks for this video.

Great video and a stroll down Dixie Highway. My Mom lived in Chicago and I spent much time there with my grandparents. I was born in Harvey and lived in Homewood, Markham and Blue Island before my folks moved the family to Indiana.

This brought back thirty years of memories. Born in 1954, I grew up in Chicago Heights, lived next to Thorn Creek/Indian Hill and used to boat on the Calumet River and its tributaries up to Lake Michigan. My uncle worked in the US Steel plant in Gary, IN and I've visited every area you mentioned. I remember looking up at the toll Road bridge and up the sides of numerous freighters from the Calumet, and many golf clubs from the 'IC' train commute to Chicago. Living in Ft. Lauderdale for 37 years now, the Dixie Highway runs right through here and I vividly remember (forced) car trips to Miami from home (the IC train was much better). Many memories, many thanks to you for the rekindling of them! PS: Marian CHS '72!

Lived there for most of my life. Very well done sir. (Scott Z. - Columbia College Chicago Film & Video alumni.)

What a really cool city ! I love it's historical background. What a treasure !

I use to love visiting my friends who lived in Hegewisch. Great neighborhood.

Anyone looking for certain scenes, here's the content: 0:00 Introduction 2:11 Gary 18:42 Merrillville/Hobart 19:48 East Chicago 23:06 Whiting 24:30 Hammond 30:38 Calumet River port 32:46 South Chicago 36:04 Calumet River 40:55 Hegewisch 42:20 Lake Calumet 44:38 Calumet River branch meeting 46:03 Calumet City 48:57 Blue Island 53:52 Robbins 57:12 Dixie Highway 1:00:04 Harvey 1:05:45 Markham 1:06:56 South Holland 1:10:41 Thornton 1:13:30 Glenwood 1:16:33 Homewood 1:22:07 Flossmoor 1:23:50 Olympia Fields 1:25:36 Chicago Heights 1:30:45 Lansing/Lynwood 1:32:53 South Chicago Heights 1:34:07 Steger 1:35:04 Crete 1:34:04 University Park 1:37:06 Park Forest 1:43:05 Full Circle and closing

I grew up in Steger and Chicago Hts. As I grew into an adult, I lived in Homewood /Flossmore then Crete, Beecher, and Momence. I now live in Bradley and would love to learn the History between Crete and Kankakee. Thank you for sharing this video. It was nice to see a little part of my past.

I lived in the Southside of Chicago and also in South Bend Indiana. Had I been introduced to Gary''s history I'd have appreciated it more instead of shunning the region after listening to deprecating quips about it.

Incredible. I lived here for almost 25 years, and learned so much extra from this documentary. Much appreciated. Shout out to Robbins!

wow - I never knew! Such a rich history and the African-American heritage in particular. Thank you for this tour!!!

Roseland, West Pullman, Cal Sag, Dog and Suds, Chicken Unlimited, man o man. Those were the days.

reminded me a lot of areas I lived and worked in, from 1966 to 78, Roseland, Calumet Park, Blue Island, Park Forest, etc., very soon after I arrived in USA in 1965. Cheers

I lived in the south side. Kids were born in Blue Island and Harvey. In the 1970s , love this.

I would love to see a 2023 version on this documentary

Thank you for such an amazing story!

A wonderful historical document!!

I grew up in Park Forest during the 70's. Pretty good memories all in all. That sign took me by surprise.. Thanks for sharing the content.

A wonderful walk through history !

I grew up in Grand Crossing and Beverly and family members have been here since before the Chicago Fire. Both my Great Grandfather and my Father, both named Peter Foote were Presidents of the Calumet Area Industrial Commission which had a slightly different name in my father’s time. He retained the files of his grandfather and often commented that the issues hadn’t changed much in the intervening years. This was a very interesting video, and had a great number of things I knew and had never known about these areas. Only a tiny minor quibble, while this video was we’ll focused on the region I was very surprised that you did not mention that the Vincennes trail connected Fort Wayne Indiana with Fort Dearborn at the mouth of the Chicago river. (Source: Chicago Transit Authority South Route Commentator Script.) I believe that these productions by Geoffrey Baer and WTTW will be recognized for many generations as preserving the history of the communities around the Chicago Regional Area.

Love Chicago

In 1977 my friend and Myself bought Amtrak tail passes and went from Seattle to Denver to Chicago to Washington DC to New York to New Orleans to Los Angeles and back to Seattle. In Chicago we rode the elevated trains to the South Side. Those elevated trains are truly fun to ride. It's a really great way see the city and environs. The subways in NY city don't come close. If you haven't seen America by train you haven't seen it. The the trains go places that you can't see any other way .Many really wild places can only be seen this way. It's dirt cheap if you don't get a sleeper. We took turns sleeping in the seats while our friend held down searing in the bar car. You meet many people from the US and other countries at times. If you are a romantic one can often hook up with a nice person. Do it if at all possible, it's dirt cheap which makes it even more attractive. While the food isn't much to brag about you can always bring snacks Think about good drinks, great company, great scenery, and a card game all night!

I enjoyed that trip down memory lane. Very well done.

Geoffrey Baer's series on Chicago is so good! It's amazing these are on youtube for free

Born and raised on the eastside of Chicago heights its awsome to see the history of were i was raised.. Awesome! Well done

To get the true South side experience, you need to imagine it smelling like sulphur.^

Great Documentary!! Thanks

I wish this movie had mentioned Palos Park, 25 miles SW of Chicago where I grew up in the '50s. It was an artists' colony in the 19th century, in the heart of the Forest Preserve District. Hills, deer, foxes, raccoons, riding stables, and a beautiful stream throughout; the water so good, people came from Chicago on weekends to fill bottles from it. A friend lived in a house that used to be a stagecoach station. Another nearby house was built entirely of natural stones taken from the stream bed. Peaceful, quiet, beautiful. No roar of traffic; no airplane noise; no businesses but one very small grocery. All ruined now; swallowed up by the overgrowth of Chicago.

Fascinating as always, thank you.

Wow full of facts and well done thanks I thoroughly enjoyed that

This is an outstanding documentary!

The spot where Geoffrey is leaning against the railing on western ave in BI, is 1 block from my house. Blue Islanders still call the business district, 'up town' because the natural topography means you have to walk/drive up steep hills to get there. Even though I've lived here nearly 50 yrs, this documentary taught me a great many things about the area. The 'Driving the Dixie' or 'Dixie Dash' event is usually held in late June or early July. Take the day and cruise it, stopping at as many attractions that suit your fancy. Classic cars are not a prerequisite ;)

Terrific story on the Chicago's south suburbs and especially "Da (Calumet) Region!" Thanks for sharing!

Reminds me of Harlem.. thanks for uploading this. Very insightful.

I grew up in Elmhurst, Il. A burb of Chicago. My Mothers family immigrated to Bensenville in the late 1700’s from Germany. I got a call from the City of Chicago wanting to know where I wanted past family members graves relocated to when O’Hare airport was expanding into Cemetery in Bensenville. I had them relocate them to Elm Lawn where all the other family members are. 😉 loved this Documentary thanks for posting! Subscribing.

Thank you for posting. I live here and learned a lot.

This is a great documentary, I could watch this all day, thank you, very informative

These docs remind me of zoning out and thinking I had no problems in my life.

23:06 Greetings from Whiting Indiana. The last affordable small town on Lake Michigan. I bought a house here 4 years ago, best move I ever made. I fled the increasingly ridiculous Cook County property taxes. He didn't mention the beautiful beach park, Whihala Beach park, with it's music pavillion and kids water park. Home of the annual Pierogi Fest and Mascot Hall of Fame.

I recently discovered your tours and I LOVE them. Thank you for showing us your city and state 😊

Enjoyed this journey around Chicago, Il. and Gary, In; a lot of interesting history.

I grew up on Southside Altgeld Gardens. Left in 74

Man I love your videos about Chicagoland. Im learning so much history about Chicagoland.

This was awesome👏🏾👏🏾👏🏾🎬

Excellent, well rounded and informative program, inclusion of "The Blues Brothers" filming locations was a nice touch.

So gosh darn fun!

I was born in Saint James Hospital in 1969, but moved to California before I turned. 2 yr old It is so cool to be able to learn about where I was born.

I grew up in South Holland. And just moved to Thornton from South Chicago. And we are planning are wedding at Ravisloe! I love it here!!!!!❤❤❤❤

Good video. I used to work in this region (South burbs and NW Indiana) and I'll never forget it. I loved it even though I never lived in the region, I only worked there. Now I live in DeKalb County, IL and I don't live close enough to ever find a reason to go back there ever again. I will though, someday. Lots of hidden jems out there.

My Grandparents were raised in Harvey circa 1915; it was a newly developed "Temperance Town"

This is so heartbreaking

MY GUY JEFFREY WE ARE PROUD CHICAGOAN'S THE BEST IN THE BUSINESS BE WELL CHICAGO LOVE'S YOU COMMENT FROM THE NORTH SIDE 👍

I grew up in Jeffrey Manor. Thanks, this was delightful.

😮 awesome ! I've seen Mr Baers other videos , but this was most satisfying and entertaining ... excellent content ! - a History Buff from Kokomo & Lafayette Indiana

I stayed in, south Holland, Lynwood and now Harvey, but originally born and raised on the south side of Chicago, until I was 21yrs,

Beautiful

Growing up in the north suburbs, I really enjoy leaning about all of the south side

I love it 👍

Driving on the Highway Bridge over the Thorton Quarry is quite a view.. a but unerving actually ..

I lived in Park Forest until 8th grade, 1972. Then moved to Park Forest South. I don't think it was mentioned that University Heights was first Park Forest South, then many years later., and ago, it was renamed.

Really enjoyed this. I grew up in South Shore, the neighborhood just north of South Chicago, and worked at both the US Steel South Works and Inland Steel in East Chicago. The early portion of the video was very familiar. However, even though this was posted to You Tube in 2022 it was actually produced in 2004, 18 years previous to its YT posting. It would be nice to have an update of some of the areas. For example, most of the South Works site is still undeveloped vacant land.

I just found your channel, it's amazing! Thank you very much! When I started watching part about south side I didn't find anything about Pullman 60628. I think it's an important part of history. Would be happy to see it in your videos! We used to live on Pullman and still own 3 properties. My husband is from Ukraine, I am from Russia. We had wonderful neighbors at Pullman. Pullman has every year open-house tour and free museum that offers no-charge tours. People of Pullman are amazing!

I lived in Chicago for all of my childhood never knew half of this

My grandfather worked at Steger piano before he was drafted into WWI. Fortunately, The peace treaty was signed, and the war ended while my father was on a troop ship traveling across the Atlantic. After the war, he became an electrician.

Geoffrey Thank You for the documentary , I learned a few new things about Gary and Hammond that I didn’t know being due to I was one of the 30% that left NW Indiana during the 1980’s exodus. I was born in Hammond and lived in Gary and Hobart as a youth. I condemned the State of Indiana in a Google Maps post ( local guide ) for the way I felt Lake County got abandoned when employment rates dropped in the 80’s and organized crime “street gangs” took this as a welcome mat to set up shop and the residents weee left kind of helpless because those same street gangs recruited their family members and I don’t know any body that would find pleasure in snitching out a family member.

Good one! Raised in NWI - Miss it!

Raised in Park Forest my parents still live there!

Cal City, South Holland, Munster, Hammond and Gary. My gf is from blue island. Just left a year ago with no regrets.

I live in a suburb Birmingham Alabama , in the heart of the southern steel making industry. At its height, Birmingham had no less than 5 mills and foundries. After the civil war the steel here industry boomed. Starting with Sloss furnace ie the Sloss family, Then, Carnegie with US Steel, US. Pipe (2 plants ) , Stochham Valve, ACIPCO,McWayne Steel/cast iron pipe, and so on. Us steel is a shadow of its former selves, and Alabama being one of the few places on earth where all materials needed for iron and steel production are in the same place. Coal, iron ore, and limestone. Even the Bessemer system lent its name to a small suburb of Birmingham of the same name. At one time , here in central alabama , one either worked the ore mines for material or you worked in one of the mills producing steel or cast iron pipe. Less than half of the mills and plants are in existent and most of the coal and ore mines are shut down. Most of the coal goes out of the country to make steel in South America or china as competition. What I’m saying is, you should do a similar story about Birmingham and Bessemer Alabama. Our steel and coal built this country and a whole lot more , would be nice to have something good said about Birmingham instead of the usual racist rhetoric.

12:30 Reagarding Octave Chanute, there was an Air Force base near Rantoul, IL named after him. It was used for training. Chanute Air Force Base (AFB) was an Air Force training facility located in the east-central Illinois Village of Rantoul.

I grew up in Hammond right outside of Chicago amd lived in Gary for almost 20 years actually right by Aetna in Miller.I remeber how alot of Chicagoans came over to Indiana around the time the public hoising projects were being torn down in the 90s They added a little flavor for us 😊

awesome things never knew tyty

Drove through Gary today. Breathtakingly beautiful. Smells of roses and lilacs. Should be on your list of places to vacation. Stunning.

33:00 im part of history wow this area is my whole life and i had no idea of any of this i look around and see incredible stuff but run down and dilapidated and i just imagine how was it when it was nice and to see this video is incredible

This was so d@mn interesting. So much of this is lost in today's society and curriculum cramming for nonsensical tests. It's a shame :(

This is an excellent blend of history, geography and civics. It shows be shown 4th Gr-HS

I always hated trains. And could never understand why lots of people seemed to like them. Then I realized I was driving around one of the busiest train hubs in the world. Oh ok makes more sense now. If I seen one train a day I'd probably be more endeared to them.

Born and raised in Hammond right in the Middle of DA REGION We ran around in all these Areas Great Times

Thrown from a buggy when a steam engine startles your horse is such an 1800's way to die

My parents grew up in Morgan park in the 30s and 40s my great grandfather was a broker for the stockyards Gillette Sinclair company I went to Chicago when I was young but haven't returned I hope Chicago returns to its former beauty someday

I thought that they stopped making documentaries like this ?? God Bless Us All and Thank You So Much

Get the book "Calumet Beginnings" by Dr. Kenneth Schoon of Munster. The first part of the book is about the geological history of the area. The second half is about the South suburbs. Dr. Schoon was a consultant on this show.