By the late 1920s, at its peak of brick making and consumption, Chicago was making over a billion bricks a year and importing a billion more. Throughout the city’s history, brick evolved from a simple fireproof material into an integral part of architectural design. And no one knows the hidden details and stories of this fascinating history like Chicago’s foremost brick aficionado, Will Quam. Known for his popular walking tours, Quam has built his life around the appreciation, study, and evangelizing of bricks. Join us as he gives us a fresh lens through which to explore the city — illuminating the beauty and mystery of Chicago’s buildings, and making sure you’ll never look at a brick building the same way again.

• Chicago Humanities is pleased to partner with Chicago’s Seminary Co-op Bookstores, the country’s first not-for-profit bookstore. 
• Pre-order Fire and Clay: How Bricks Reveal the Hidden History of Chicago through the Chicago Humanities box office and save up to 20% while supporting local, independent bookselling. Add books to your cart when adding tickets. Your PDF ticket will contain a book voucher, which you show to the bookseller on-site to pick up your book(s).
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