From the massacre at Fort Dearborn in 1812 to the famous gangsters of the Prohibition, Chicago is a city steeped in history-and not all of it is savory. Every neighborhood has its scary stories and sordid histories, and there's no better time to explore the seamier side of Chicago's past than on a blustery fall day as Halloween approaches. Wear something warm, bring a camera and someone's hand to hold, and spend an evening finding out just how scary the Second City is.

Despite its rough and ready reputation as "hog butcher to the world", Chicago is a city of great cultural wealth. This day of exploration discovers a portion of that wealth, much of it lodged in the city's exceptional museums. Along the way we will visit another source of cultural wealth - the city's diverse and colorful neighborhoods.