The Early History of Bicycling in Illinois

Illinois Wesleyan University professor Chris Sweet will lead a talk on the role of the bicycle in Illinois history based on his new book: A History of Bicycling in Illinois: 160 Years of Booms and Busts (University of Illinois Press) . This talk will focus primarily on the bicycle boom of the 1890s and will examine the intersections of bicycling with social issues, politics, religion, sport, technology, and economics. Attendees will have an opportunity to view antique bicycles (including a penny-farthing!) and bicycle artifacts from the author's collection. Chris Sweet is the Scholarly Communi.