Audio will be available later today.

Bathhouses have been important for Chicagoans for more than a century. Before indoor plumbing, they were used for sanitation purposes. Then they transformed into a safe spot for gay men to socialize and participate in shared fetishes. And, today you can see a mix of folks who are looking for a steam or cold pool. For Curious City, Miles Bryan reports on the history of Chicago’s bathhouses and why they evolved.