The Chicago River: A Natural and Unnatural History (Illinois) (Illinois) (Illinois) (Illinois)

Winner of the Midwest Independent Publishers Association (MIPA) Book Award (2nd Place in the History category)

One of ten Outstanding Nominations for the Abel Wolman Award for the best new book in the field of public works history

Used and abused. Straightened and channelized. Reversed and revered. But never ignored...

An Intimate Biography of the Heroic Creek that Chicago Made

When French explorers Jolliet and Marquette used the Chicago portage to access the Mississippi River system, the Chicago River was but a humble, even sluggish, stream in the right place at the right time. That's the story of the making of Chicago. This is the other story--the story of the making and perpetual re-making of a river by everything from pre-glacial forces to the interventions of an emerging and mighty city.

It's clear that a huge amount of research went into this book, and even technical sections are presented clearly and enlivened by interestuing tidbits of information. I wish this book existed when I lived in Chicago. I would have had a much greater appreciation of what was around me.


CHICAGO, WISCONSIN?!?!?   September 17, 2000
 7 out of 9 found this review helpful

This is one of the strange and interesting facts found in this book. The author spent six years meticulously researching and writing this book about "the historic creek that Chicago built". The book does many things for Chicago's history: it gives a great perspective of the political realities of managing one of the main forms of transportation in the city's early growth; it describes the economice of developing the land along the river (and its many courses); and it shows the part the river played in the lives of everyone along its banks. The drawings and maps in the book are carefully chosen to give the reader an accurate visual picture of the times. My favorite is the one on pg. 96 where men are lifting an entire hotel to accomodate the installation of sewers in the city. I also loved the story about the "kidnapped dredge"! The last third of the book is very pertinent to the people in the area who truly love the outdoors. It describes the development of the Skokie Lagoons and the Chicago Botanic Garden where many of us bird and the start of the natural areas restoration for which Chicago has become so well known along the banks of the North Branch. For folks who grew up in or near the city, the neighborhood references are sure to bring back fond memories but, even for those of us who did not grow up in this area, there is much to learn. This book would be a great addition to a reference library or a wonderful gift for someone interested in Chicago and its varied history. Looking for the answer to the question that began this review? Well, you'll have to read the book to see how a stroke of luck- or a pen!- made us the "City of Big Shoulders" rather than the "City of the Northwoods"!


An in-depth, comprehensive history and presentation.   September 4, 2000
 2 out of 4 found this review helpful

Libby Hill's The Chicago River is the result of years of painstaking research and presents an outstanding historical survey of the Chicago River from its creation by pre-glacial forces, to the days of the French explorers using it to access the Mississippi, to its contemporary presence in one of the most densely populated urban areas in the Midwest. The Chicago River is an in-depth, comprehensive work that reveals the never ending struggle between humans and nature over the centuries, as well as the commercial, recreational, and ecological projects currently underway on and in the river. The Chicago River is highly recommended, rewarding reader for those with an interest in Chicago, natural history, environmental issues, and Midwestern history.