Today in Chicago History: ‘Spider' Dan Goodwin scales the Sears Tower, then the world's tallest building

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25-05-2025

Here's a look back at what happened in the Chicago area on May 25, according to the Tribune's archives.
Is an important event missing from this date? Email us.
Weather records (from the National Weather Service, Chicago)
High temperature: 94 degrees (1911)
Low temperature: 32 degrees (1992)
Precipitation: 2.52 inches (1879)
Snowfall: Trace (1949)
1950: A Chicago Transit Authority Green Hornet streetcar slammed into a gas truck on State Street near 62nd Street in what remains the worst traffic accident in Chicago history and the worst streetcar accident in the United States. The streetcar's doors did not have emergency pulls to open them, which are now required on all CTA vehicles, so 33 passengers died trapped inside. The gas truck driver also died. The streetcar's motorman was blamed for failing to slow down to negotiate a switch.
5 things you might not know about Chicago native Ted Kaczynski — the 'Unabomber'
1978: 'Unabomber' Ted Kaczynski left his first known bomb in a parking lot at the University of Illinois Chicago.
A passerby picked it up and returned it to the person Kaczynski listed on the return address as the sender. That person, a Northwestern University professor, was suspicious about the package and turned it over to security there. A public safety officer at Northwestern suffered minor injuries when he opened the package and it exploded.
1979: At the start of Memorial Day weekend, 271 people aboard American Airlines Flight 191 died after the DC-10 aircraft they boarded crashed just 31 seconds after takeoff from O'Hare International Airport. Two more people on the ground also died in the crash that impacted an open field about 4,600 feet northwest of the departure end of the runway.
It's still the deadliest passenger airline accident on U.S. soil.
1981: 'Spider Dan' Goodwin scaled the Sears Tower, which was then the world's tallest building.
At least 200 people showed up to watch the 25-year-old Goodwin, clad in a blue-and-orange suit, scale the west side of the building using suction cups and a 'home-welded claw,' the Tribune reported.
'Spider Dan' wowed Chicagoans with his scaling of skyscrapers
Goodwin finished a little before 10:30 a.m. and was promptly taken into police custody. He and partner in crime James Hackett were charged with disorderly conduct and bonded out the next day, with Goodwin walking out of the downtown jail still in his superhero suit. Hours later, Goodwin was holding court and dining on trout at the Ambassador East Hotel in the Pump Room's famed Booth One.
Two weeks later, Goodwin and Hackett appeared in court. Goodwin pleaded guilty and was fined $35. Hackett had his charge dismissed.
Goodwin went on to scale the John Hancock Center in November 1981.
1982: Fergie Jenkins became the seventh MLB pitcher to strike out 3,000 batters in the Chicago Cubs' 2-1 loss at San Diego. Jenkins reached the milestone by striking out Garry Templeton in the third inning.
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2011: The final episode of 'The Oprah Winfrey Show,' which was filmed in Chicago, aired.
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