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 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. Before the river was reversed, chicago was in the midst of a great period of growth. 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. The early city and the north area by richard lanyon was published by lake claremont last month. At work or at play, the chicago river remains a powerful force of nature. The history of the chicago river the chicago river tour.
For centuries, the chicago river has drawn intrepid explorers, immigrant laborers, and industrial giants to its shores, lured by the promise of its opportunities. The chicago fire of 1871, the haymarket affair, the columbian exposition and the reversal of the chicago river are all depicted. It took a crafty engineer named ellis chesbrough to come up with a startling plan. The reversal of flow between basins and the diversion of lake michigan water has long been a source of contention among competing interests. During this time period chicago was an up and coming city with a growing population.
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. Nearly a century later the chicago riverwalk has realized this vision. While annin does a great job explaining some of the history of the project, heres more information on its history and future. 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.
Lanyon details the history of the reversal of the chicago river in 1900 and the. This entry was posted in books, chicago, history, photography. 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. An illustrated history and guide to the river and its waterways, second edition. 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. The story behind the chicago river reversal chicago. This piece of chicago s history was a groundbreaking achievement in more ways than one. In the epic drama that is chicagos history, the chicago river has played many roles, by turns hero, villain, and underdog. 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. Reversing the river season 15 american experience pbs. 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. Through changes in its shape and form, the continuous river level path drives a series of new programmatic connections to the water.
The encyclopedia of chicago is one of the most significant historical projects. Winner of the 20 abel wolman award for best new book in public works history. With the reversal of the river, the water supply greatly improved, along with chicagoans health. The history of the waterway connecting the great lakes to the mississippi river as want to read. Dick lanyon, most recently served as executive director of the metropolitan water district of greater chicago before retiring. 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. 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.
A reimagined rivers edge in pilsen and south roscoe village will transform the currently unwelcoming shoreline. The chicago river system flows 156 miles 251 km from park city north to lockport south. 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. Its river and the land beyond, the big, historical photo book by richard cahan. Find events on chicago history explore chicagos history with cpls digital and archival collections, recommended books and blog posts. Explore chicagos history with cpls digital and archival collections, recommended books and blog posts. New book on the chicago rivers reversal michael bryson. Above all, the riverwalk honors the iconic quality of the existing urban context by embracing and interpreting chicagos layered history. An illustrated history and guide to the river and its waterways, second edition solzman, david m. Rare photos not appropriate for history books duration. 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. Season 15 1m 40s by the mid19th century, chicago was a growing city encountering problems with its water supply and sewage disposal. After years of painstaking work, richard cahan and michael williams present an unprecedented dual glimpse of midwestern history in the lost.
The chicago river is a system of rivers and canals with a combined length of 156 miles 251. 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. 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. A color insert features a timeline of chicago history and photo essays exploring nine pivotal years in this history. Chicago river, the symphony, and the book that inspired it. The most iconic river scenes lie near the rivers confluence with. Chicago river, navigable stream that originally flowed into lake michigan after being formed by the north and south branches about 1 mile 1. 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. A natural and unnatural history, two biologists from the illinois natural history survey documented conditions.
The river is also noteworthy for its natural and humanengineered history. Chicago s raw sewage in the river is normally carried upstream toward the mississippi river which flows south towards the gulf of mexico. An illustrated history and guide to the river and its waterways by david m. Until 1900, the chicago river drained into lake michigan, along with all the sewage from the city. 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. This is a mission we at chicago detours can get behind. 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. And he provides an appendix that lists riverrelated organizations, museums, tours, and riverfront restaurants and clubs. The story behind the chicago river reversal chicago line.
Chicagos history confirms the old adage that geography is destiny. How chicago transformed from a midwestern outpost town to. A snapshot history of america 2008, among other stellar books. Chicago metro history fair triumph and tragedy topics. Chicago metro history fair triumph and tragedy topics list. Since reversal, the source of the south branch of the chicago river is the confluence of the. The reversal program resulted in a multipurpose project involving water supply, pollution control, transportation, and power generation. 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. Chicago river, the symphony, and the book that inspired it bleader. The chicago river, a new jazz symphony by orbert davis, was inspired by the. Esme benjamin contributed additional reporting to this article. Chicago turns river green for saint patricks day youtube. As libby hill wrote in her book, the chicago river. The reversal of the river marked a crucial juncture in the story of chicagos miraculous rise.
Although the reversal of the chicago river was hailed as a public health and engineering triumph, the populations of several lakefront suburbs grew and. 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. Revising the history of chicago in a sweeping debut novel. Heres a look back at the history behind the reversal of the chicago river and the legacy its left since. Theyve got a few juicy episodes on chicago topics, but check out their story on badass woman of chicago history katharine mccormick. The encyclopedia of chicago, grossman, keating, reiff. 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. Librarything is a cataloging and social networking site for booklovers. 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. Selected resources found at chicago public library. But it opened the door to still further advancements. Start by marking the chicago sanitary and ship canal.
This allowed a regulated amount of water to flow out of lake michigan, through the chicago river, and into the illinois river. In 1894, photographers set out to document the reversal of the chicago river. 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. 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. An expanded riverwalk along the banks of the main stem of the chicago river creates more space for outdoor activities.
Offering the most complete description available of the. There are no clearcut, blackandwhite, manichaean dichotomies here. Of course, this monumental project didnt happen overnight. 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. Highlighting the complications the river faced and still faces, this fascinating account will open readers eyes. An animated history the chicago tour with geoffrey baer. City of the century throbs with the pulse of the great city it brilliantly brings to life. It flushed bigcity waste into prairie rivers and forever altered local hydrology. 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. System objectives, vision, and restoration goals and alternatives. Chicago is located right on the continental divide that separates the great lakes and mississippi watersheds.
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