The chicago river, a new jazz symphony by orbert davis, was inspired by the. Rare photos not appropriate for history books duration. It took a crafty engineer named ellis chesbrough to come up with a startling plan. Chicagos strategic position was solidified in 1848 when the new illinois and michigan canal provided an allwater connection between the chicago and the illinois rivers. It flushed bigcity waste into prairie rivers and forever altered local hydrology. The portage between the south branch of the chicago river, was only one of these portages, but claimed the greatest attention from early european explorers and settlers. On stuff you missed in history class, hosts tracy wilson and holly frey dig deep to find stories and people who have been left out of the history books.
When chicago changed its river and the land beyond forgotten glass negatives that connect us to a world gone by in 1894, photographers set out to document the reversal of the chicago river, an engineering feat known at the time as the eighth wonder of the world. This allowed a regulated amount of water to flow out of lake michigan, through the chicago river, and into the illinois river. The chicago river system flows 156 miles 251 km from park city north to lockport south. While annin does a great job explaining some of the history of the project, heres more information on its history and future. To reverse the flow of a river wouldnt be possible today, but to chicago near. Revising the history of chicago in a sweeping debut novel. Season 15 1m 40s by the mid19th century, chicago was a growing city encountering problems with its water supply and sewage disposal. In the epic drama that is chicagos history, the chicago river has played many roles, by turns hero, villain, and underdog. With the reversal of the river, the water supply greatly improved, along with chicagoans health. For centuries, the chicago river has drawn intrepid explorers, immigrant laborers, and industrial giants to its shores, lured by the promise of its opportunities. Before the reversal of the river, rainfall to the west of the divide would flow into the des plaines river and out to the mississippi, and rainfall to the east would flow into the chicago river and replenish lake michigan. A snapshot history of america 2008, among other stellar books. City of the century throbs with the pulse of the great city it brilliantly brings to life.
With more than 150 neverbeforepublished duotone images, taken between 1892 and 1930, this collection explores the history of the chicago river and the impact its reversal had on the watershed all the way to the mississippi river. How chicago transformed from a midwestern outpost town to. Miller is the john henry maccracken professor of history emeritus at lafayette college and author of ten books, including vicksburg, and masters of the air, currently being made into a television series by tom hanks. A color insert features a timeline of chicago history and photo essays exploring nine pivotal years in this history. In 1894, photographers set out to document the reversal of the chicago river.
Selected resources found at chicago public library. A natural and unnatural history, two biologists from the illinois natural history survey documented conditions in the summer of 1911 along the illinois river in morris, illinois, approximately 60 miles southwest of chicago. The history of the waterway connecting the great lakes to the mississippi river as want to read. Its river and the land beyond, the big, historical photo book by richard cahan. The reversal of the river marked a crucial juncture in the story of chicagos miraculous rise. Since reversal, the source of the south branch of the chicago river is the confluence of the. Chicago river, the symphony, and the book that inspired it bleader. An illustrated history and guide to the river and its waterways, second edition solzman, david m. Chicago s raw sewage in the river is normally carried upstream toward the mississippi river which flows south towards the gulf of mexico. The encyclopedia of chicago is one of the most significant historical projects.
Lanyon details the history of the reversal of the chicago river in 1900 and the. Librarything is a cataloging and social networking site for booklovers. A natural and unnatural history weaves a practical account of the river s workhorse history with the details of the decadeslong effort to undo the damage done. Before the river was reversed, chicago was in the midst of a great period of growth. There are no clearcut, blackandwhite, manichaean dichotomies here. A natural and unnatural history weaves a practical account of the rivers workhorse history with the details of the decadeslong effort to undo the damage done. Although the reversal of the chicago river was hailed as a public health and engineering triumph, the populations of several lakefront suburbs grew and. He has hosted, coproduced, or served as historical consultant for more than thirty television documentaries and has written for the new york times, the washington post.
After years of painstaking work, richard cahan and michael williams present an unprecedented dual glimpse of midwestern history in the lost. Chicagos history confirms the old adage that geography is destiny. The reversal of flow between basins and the diversion of lake michigan water has long been a source of contention among competing interests. The history of the chicago river the chicago river tour. Highlighting the complications the river faced and still faces, this fascinating account will open readers eyes. The story behind the chicago river reversal chicago. Through changes in its shape and form, the continuous river level path drives a series of new programmatic connections to the water. Chicago is located right on the continental divide that separates the great lakes and mississippi watersheds. This piece of chicago s history was a groundbreaking achievement in more ways than one.
The chicago river is a system of rivers and canals with a combined length of 156 miles 251. Reversing the river season 15 american experience pbs. Reversal of the chicago river, chicago il 1900 as chicago grew into a major metropolis, its river became an open sewer that fed directly into the citys water supply. Winner of the 20 abel wolman award for best new book in public works history. A reimagined rivers edge in pilsen and south roscoe village will transform the currently unwelcoming shoreline. The chicago river, a new jazz symphony by orbert davis, was inspired by the lost panoramas, a book that documents the reversal of the chicago river. There, they found, the waterwas grayish and sloppy, with foul, privy odors distinguishable in hot weatherputrescent masses of soft, graying, or blackish, slimy matter, loosely held together by threads of fungi. The saga of chicagos unresolved struggle between order and freedom, growth and control, capitalism and community, remains instructive for our time, as we seek ways to build and maintain cities that retain their humanity without losing their energy. The reversal of the chicago river one of the great engineering projects of the late 19th century impacted both the watersheds of the chicago region as well as the economy of the city and its suburbs.
The river is also noteworthy for its natural and humanengineered history. Above all, the riverwalk honors the iconic quality of the existing urban context by embracing and interpreting chicagos layered history. This entry was posted in books, chicago, history, photography. The chicago fire of 1871, the haymarket affair, the columbian exposition and the reversal of the chicago river are all depicted. An expanded riverwalk along the banks of the main stem of the chicago river creates more space for outdoor activities. Of course, this monumental project didnt happen overnight. Offering the most complete description available of the. Engineering feat and political swamp, reversing the river cleaned up chicagos water and improved transportation, but impacted the great lakes ecosystem and angered cities south of chicago. An illustrated history and guide to the river and its waterways, second edition. As libby hill wrote in her book, the chicago river. The northern river reversal or siberian river reversal was an ambitious project to divert the flow of the northern rivers in the soviet union, which uselessly drain into the arctic ocean, southwards towards the populated agricultural areas of central asia, which lack water. The early city and the north area by richard lanyon was published by lake claremont last month. Chicago turns river green for saint patricks day youtube. A reversal flow of the chicago river into lake michigan would have a negative impact on navigation and on the quality of lake michigan water, which is the source of drinking water.
Chicago metro history fair triumph and tragedy topics. The story behind the chicago river reversal chicago line. This book is a book foundation for my obsession but im still on the look out for a book that is only about the reversal process. Nearly a century later the chicago riverwalk has realized this vision. The environmental impacts of the chicago river reversal the effects of the groundbreaking engineering feat are still being felt today as far as the gulf of mexico. The most iconic river scenes lie near the rivers confluence with. Esme benjamin contributed additional reporting to this article. The reversal of the chicago river created its own problems.
Heres a look back at the history behind the reversal of the chicago river and the legacy its left since. A natural and unnatural history, two biologists from the illinois natural history survey documented conditions. This is a mission we at chicago detours can get behind. The encyclopedia of chicago, grossman, keating, reiff. Chicago metro history fair triumph and tragedy topics list. The lake front citys rapid growth came along with an increase in waste and pollution that was dumped into the chicago river flowing into lake michigan. An illustrated history and guide to the river and its waterways by david m. Chicago river, navigable stream that originally flowed into lake michigan after being formed by the north and south branches about 1 mile 1. Until 1900, the chicago river drained into lake michigan, along with all the sewage from the city. Theyve got a few juicy episodes on chicago topics, but check out their story on badass woman of chicago history katharine mccormick. Chicago river, the symphony, and the book that inspired it. During this time period chicago was an up and coming city with a growing population. Start by marking the chicago sanitary and ship canal. Explore chicagos history with cpls digital and archival collections, recommended books and blog posts.
Reversing the chicago river one of the things that annin rails against in his book repeatedly as an example of poor water management is the chicago river. And he provides an appendix that lists riverrelated organizations, museums, tours, and riverfront restaurants and clubs. New book on the chicago rivers reversal michael bryson. Reversal of the chicago river chicago, illinois, united states completed 1892 1900 until 1900, the chicago river drained into lake michigan, along with all the sewage from the city. Lanyon details the history of the reversal of the chicago river in 1900 and the construction of the north shore channel as an outlet for sewage. Dick lanyon, most recently served as executive director of the metropolitan water district of greater chicago before retiring. Solzman, a veteran chicago river tour guide, has also compiled a diverse collection of easy and enjoyable tours for anyone who wants to experience the river by foot, boat, canoe, or car. An animated history the chicago tour with geoffrey baer. At work or at play, the chicago river remains a powerful force of nature.