On July 18, 1945, a US Army Air Force B-25 Mitchell bomber crashed into the Empire State Building in New York City, killing 14 people and injuring 27. The accident was caused by the pilot's disorientation in heavy fog, and it remains one of the most infamous aviation accidents in history. Miraculously, a young woman named Betty Lou Oliver survived a 75-story elevator fall, and her story has become a testament to human resilience. [... more]

The Great Chicago Fire of 1871 left 100,000 people homeless and 300 people dead, but the city's spirit and innovative spirit led to a remarkable recovery. With the help of cultural historian Tim Samuelson, we explore how Chicago rebuilt and transformed itself into the modern city it is today, including the birth of the skyscraper and the city's rapid growth and annexation of surrounding towns. [... more]