By John Walker
Special to Inside
One of Chicago's most famous sites—the Michigan Avenue Bridge—will soon become home to one of the city's newest cultural attractions when two of the four towers guarding the bridge and overlooking the skyscraper-surrounded river become the location of the Chicago River Museum and Chicago River Center. Friends of the Chicago River has announced a two-phased project that will transform the southwest tower of the Michigan Avenue Bridge into a river museum and the northeast tower into a river cultural center.
In the summer of 2004, for the first time in the city's history, residents and tourists will enter the renovated southwest bridge to learn about the influence, history and well-being of the Chicago River. The museum will offer a one-of-a-kind experience that will allow visitors to see the city in a completely different way. Friends of the Chicago River hopes the initiative will raise the profile of the Chicago River and inspire widespread enthusiasm for its protection and use.
"The Chicago River Museum and Center will help take the Chicago River to the next level by helping people realize that the gentle prairie stream that helped build the city of Chicago is still very much a part of their daily lives," said Laurene von Klan, executive director of Friends of the Chicago River.
The Chicago River's Role: While visiting the museum, visitors will learn about the river's role as a catalyst for economic development and historical significance during the city's birth and growth, as well as its environmental strength and recreational uses.
During the course of the city's 170 years, the Chicago River has served several purposes. The Michigan Avenue site was the location of Fort Dearborn, Chicago's first major settlement. The site then saw the passing of thousands of ships carrying the city's products around the world and at one point was the busiest commercial river in the country. Later the flow of the Chicago River was reversed in one of the world's engineering marvels. Today, the Chicago River at Michigan Avenue is a major pedestrian, vehicle and boat intersection, recognized worldwide as a unique symbol of Chicago.
Edward Bennett, following Daniel Burnham's Chicago plan of 1909, built the moveable bridge in 1920. While the double-deck bridge was designed in the Beaux-Arts style, the two bridge towers that Friends plans to develop and occupy (the southwest and northeast towers) are strictly ornamental structures. The other two towers contain the controls and equipment used to lift the bridge. The bridge mechanism is the Chicago-style bascule trunion type, an engineering marvel developed and made famous in Chicago. The moveable bridge still operates regularly during warmer months when boats and other marine craft travel on the river.
"Visitors will receive a revealing Chicago experience unlike anything they've had before. They will have a chance to see the internal cogs and gears that make the Michigan Avenue Bridge moveable and observe the early-20th century Beaux-Arts style architecture and engulfing skyscrapers, while learning all about Chicago River running below," said von Klan. "Our goal is to pique public interest for the Chicago River's past, present and future."
Inside the Chicago River Museum and Center: The museum will feature five levels that offer an interpretive perspective of the Chicago River with messages about its relationship with surrounding people, plant and animal life. Four of the floors will be filled with exhibits that further develop and explain historical, economic, cultural and environmental themes such as, "The River Creates a City," "The River and Commerce," "Yesterday's vs. Today's Chicago River," and "Watershed Concepts." The fifth floor will feature a special exhibit and viewing area, making use of the 12 windows at the top of the bridge tower.
Renovation of the bridge tower interior and exhibit planning are already underway. After its initial opening this summer, Friends anticipates the River Museum to be open six days a week from April to October. Donations, entrance fees, merchandise sales and sponsorships will support the cost for operating and maintaining the museum.
The bridge tower on the northeast side will serve as the site of the Friends of the Chicago River cultural center and organization headquarters. The Chicago River Center will include a public area that serves as a hub for river information and activities related to the Chicago River. Visitors, for example, will enjoy access to up-to-date water quality data through on-site computers and find out how they can provide environmental assistance and action for rivers in their local communities. The Chicago River Center will also serve as a launching point for walking, biking and boating tours along its banks. Renovation and construction for the second phase of the bridge tower project is more extensive than the first and will require several years of development.
Both bridge towers are also planned to connect to a regional Chicago Riverwalk, another river project in process that includes bike and walking trails, nature paths, parks and increasing public access alongside its banks. From the southeast corner of the bridge, the riverwalk already connects the Chicago River to Lake Michigan.
Supporting the Initiative: The redevelopment of both bridge towers is a major financial investment. Contributions from individuals, organizations and businesses are necessary to complete both stages of the initiative. Individuals and representatives from organizations and businesses who are interested in making a donation to either project should contact Laurene von Klan at (312) 939-0490, ext. 19.
Founded in 1979, Friends of the Chicago River is a non-profit organization working to improve the Chicago River through three program areas: education, on-the-ground projects, and policy and planning efforts. Friends faces the challenge of restoring an urban river by mobilizing volunteers, uniting coalitions, initiating planning programs, and connecting people to the river through public outreach programs. Friends operates through corporate, foundation and government contributions as well as support from its members who strengthen the voice of the Chicago River. More information about the organization is available at chicagoriver.org. |
