Curious City

Why does Chicago have a monument named for fascist leader Italo Balbo?

May 13 · 30 min · 44.3 MB
0:00-30:35

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There’s an ancient Roman column in Chicago hidden in plain sight near Soldier Field. It was a gift given by Italian Fascist dictator Benito Mussolini during the 1933-1934 Chicago World’s Fair, commemorating a daring transatlantic flight to the fair by Italian Air Marshal Italo Balbo. In a time when controversial monuments get removed, why does this one still stand?


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