Chicago River

A view of the river

The Chicago River is 156 miles long (251 km)^[1] and goes through the city of Chicago, Illinois, including the center of the city (the Chicago Loop). The river is not long, but it is known for being the reason why Chicago became an important place, as the connection between the Great Lakes and the Mississippi Valley waterways. The river is the only river in the world to be reversed (which is, made to flow backwards, in the opposite of its natural direction) by civil engineering.^[2]

History

The river during nighttime

In the 19th century through civil engineering, the flow of the river was reversed to head toward the Mississippi River basin, away from Lake Michigan. This was done for reasons of sanitation through the Chicago Sanitary and Ship Canal. The Chicago River is also noted for the local custom of dyeing it green on St. Patrick's Day.^[3] The river is controlled for boats or ships going through the river.^[4]

The river going to the center of the city

The river is memorialized, in part, by two horizontal blue stripes on the Municipal Flag of Chicago.^[5] The river also serves as inspiration for one of Chicago's symbols: a three-branched, Y-shaped symbol (called the municipal device) is found on many buildings and other structures throughout Chicago; it represents the three branches of the Chicago River.

Main Stem

The Chicago River dyed green for St. Patrick's Day

The river during the 2014 North American polar vortex

The Main Stem flows 1.5 miles (2.4 km) west from the direction at Lake Michigan;^[6] passing under the Outer Drive, Columbus Drive, Michigan Avenue, Wabash Avenue, State Street, Dearborn Street, Clark Street, La Salle Street, Wells Street, and Franklin Street bridges en route to the North Branch at Wolf Point.

At McClurg Court it passes the Nicholas J Melas Centennial Fountain, which was built in 1989 to celebrate the 100th anniversary of the Metropolitan Water Reclamation District of Greater Chicago; between May and October the fountain sends an arc of water over the river for ten minutes every hour.

For the Chicago Cubs rally and parade for their 2016 World Series Championship celebrations, the river was dyed Cubs blue.^[7]

North bank

On the north bank of the river, near the Chicago Landmark Michigan Avenue Bridge, is Pioneer Court, which marks the site where Jean Baptiste Point du Sable came to Chicago.^[8] Point du Sable is known as the founder of Chicago. On the south bank of the river is the site of Fort Dearborn. Well known buildings surrounding this area include the NBC Tower, the Tribune Tower, and the Wrigley Building.

Center

The river turns slightly to the south west between Michigan Avenue and State Street, passing the Trump International Hotel and Tower, 35 East Wacker, and 330 North Wabash. Turning west again the river passes Marina City, the Reid, Murdoch & Co. Building, Merchandise Mart, and 333 Wacker Drive.

Chicago River Media

Aerial view of the North Branch of the Chicago River, from the south, with Goose Island, near center
The Chicago 'L' Ravenswood train (Brown Line) crossing the north branch of the Chicago River
Kayakers take a break at Wolf Point with 333 West Wacker, Lake Street Bridge and the south skyline in the background
A view of the Chicago River from the South Branch, looking toward the main stem (right) and the North Branch (upper left) at Wolf Point
South Branch at Ping Tom Memorial Park
View from the U.S. Turning Basin towards the Chicago Loop
Taylor street bridge Circa 1919
Chicago River