Episode #25: Chicago’s Bertha Palmer: More than Mrs. Astor
Bertha Palmer was the wife of Potter Palmer whose famous Chicago hotel, the Palmer House, was one of the grandest of the Gilded Age. Bertha has been compared to the queen of New York society, Mrs. Astor.
However, as my guest, historian Tom Miller shares in this week’s show, that comparison minimizes who Bertha Palmer truly was. While both women ran and ruled society in their respective cities, Bertha was in many ways the more complex and deeper character.
She was an astute businesswoman, cared so deeply about her charity work, she’d often roll up her sleeves to do what needed to be done, assembled a major collection of French Impressionist art and after her husband’s death, became one of the first real estate developers of Florida. Join Tom and me for a look at this fascinating woman and a look at Chicago’s Gilded Age.
Carl is joined by special guest:
Tom Miller, author of the Daytonian in Manhattan, an incredible website uncovering the stories of New York’s buildings, statues and points of interest
LISTEN NOW: The Real Mrs. Astor: Ruler or Rebel?
Related Podcast:
The Real Mrs. Astor: Ruler or Rebel?