McCormick Bridgehouse & Chicago River Museum

05/21/2020

Newsletters - Patrick T. McBriarty

A special gift from our friends behind the documentary Chicago Drawbridges:

During the COVID-19 pandemic you can view the documentary Chicago Drawbridges online for FREE! A LINK to the film is is provided on the Thank You for Subscribing page that follows.

Co-producers Stephen Hatch and Patrick McBriarty wanted to share this uplifting story of Chicago through the lens of its bridges as a Special Release and respite from these uncertain times.

We hope you will enjoy it.

http://pmcbriarty.com/about-2/newsletters/

Subscribe to Our Mailing List Please register to learn more receive occasional updates and blog posts about McBriarty’s work and his creative partnerships with Hatch Werks LLC and the Windy City Historians podcast. During the COVID-19 pandemic you can view the documentary Chicago Drawbridges onlin...

05/14/2020

Happy 100th Anniversary to the DuSable Bridge

Friends of the Chicago River presents a 100th anniversary celebration of the opening of DuSable Bridge featuring city officials, historians, and musicians. Hosted by our McCormick Bridgehouse & Chicago River Museum.

05/14/2020

DuSable Bridge, Chicago’s Most Famous, Turns 100 Thursday

Thank you to Block Club Chicago for this great article on the 100th! Join us tonight at 7pm here for the livestreamed program.

https://blockclubchicago.org/2020/05/14/dusable-bridge-chicagos-most-famous-turns-100-thursday/

The Michigan Avenue bridge over the Chicago River opened in the wake of the Spanish Flu epidemic.

05/14/2020

The DuSable Bridge is Turning 100, And We’re All Invited to the Virtual Party

Join us at 7pm tonight for a special livestream celebration! Right here on our FB page. And thank you to WTTW - Chicago PBS for the coverage this morning.

https://news.wttw.com/2020/05/14/chicago-history-dusable-bridge-turns-100-years-old

The bridge, which spans the Chicago River at Michigan Avenue, paved the way for development of Chicago’s Magnificent Mile. Tune in at 7 p.m. Thursday to celebrate its past and present.

05/13/2020

Column: Chicago’s DuSable Bridge, originally the Michigan Avenue Bridge, turns 100 Thursday. Here’s why the centennial matters.

Thank you to Blair Kamin for this great article in the Chicago Tribune this morning. Please tune in tomorrow night at 7pm here on our FB page for a program celebrating 100 years of the DuSable Bridge!

https://www.chicagotribune.com/columns/blair-kamin/ct-biz-dusable-bridge-turns-100-kamin-20200513-7bw5i5btzzfdtn5mkkvhmtxu3u-story.html

A graceful masterpiece of form and function, the span over the Chicago River both reflects the city's history and changed the way it was built.

05/13/2020

Join us this Thursday evening here on our page for a celebration of the 100th anniversary of the opening of the DuSable Bridge. View the trailer for a sneak peak at some of our special guests.

05/08/2020

Chicago River Day - Volunteer - Get Involved - Friends of the Chicago River

Did you know that litter on the street could be one rainstorm away from being litter in the river? Tomorrow kicks off the Chicago River Day Summer Challenge. Find out more info on how we have adjusted Chicago River Day to the COVID-19 restrictions.

https://www.chicagoriver.org/get-involved/volunteer/chicago-river-day-2020

05/07/2020

One week from today, the DuSable Bridge (formally, Michigan Avenue Bridge) turns 100 years old. The bridge opened on May 14th, 1920 to great fanfare. While we are unable to celebrate the 100th anniversary of this momentous occasion in person, we will be celebrating virtually. Join us here on Thursday, May 14th at 7pm CST for a special livestream birthday party featuring special guests ranging from historians, musicians, architects, City of Chicago officials, and more! Keep an eye out for more information coming over the next week.

*Photo credit and exact date is unknown, but provided by Wendella. Photo of the bridge from the north side of the Chicago River.

04/22/2020

Happy Earth Day to everyone! While we may be inside, we are still able to celebrate the great strides that have been made to restore nature and our Chicago River for people, plants, and animals. We look forward to reopening eventually this year and continuing our efforts. Photo taken during our Earth Day Cruise last year with @wendellaboats #earthday #happyearthday #chicagoriver #chicago #bridgehousemuseum #wendella #bluegreencorridor

04/02/2020

We hope that everyone is staying healthy, safe, and staying inside if you are able to. We will be opening this season as soon as it is deemed safe, so keep an eye on our page and website for updates. This season we will have brand new exhibits from @space_haus along with all of our signatures events and tours. Remember we are also available as a rental for private events/parties as well. #bridgehousemuseum #chicagomuseums #chicagoriverwalk #smallmuseums #chicagoriver #chicagobridges

03/17/2020

Friends of the Chicago River

Even as we were imagining how to keep on celebrating St. Patrick's Day without a green river someone took it upon themselves to pour dye into the Upper North Branch.

Dyeing the river breaks the laws of the Clean Water Act, and who knows what was in it?

This photo was taken Saturday, March 14 a few blocks south of Foster and west of Kimball. Ask your friends and neighbors what they saw where and we will share it with the appropriate authorities. Photos, times, and locations can go to [email protected]. Thank you!

#cleanwater #healthyrivers #happyfish

02/12/2020

Friends of the Chicago River

If you look closely at things, you may be surprised by what you see. Consider the Museum of Science and Industry, Chicago 's Great Train Story exhibit.This huge train set presents 2,200 miles of scenery and stories from Chicago to Seattle along 1,400 feet of winding track.
Friends' board president Sally Fletcher recently spotted a certain museum we're all fond of -- Friends' McCormick Bridgehouse & Chicago River Museum at the corner of Michigan Avenue and Wacker on the Chicago Riverwalk.
The real Bridgehouse museum opens May 9 and the 2020 season is going to be extra special! We've refreshed some of the exhibits and added better lighting to give visitors an even better experience exploring the great history of the Chicago River and its bridgehouses. Put it on your to-do list for this summer!
http://www.bridgehousemuseum.org/

02/10/2020

Employment with Friends - Job Opportunities - Get Involved - Friends of the Chicago River

Friends of the Chicago River is hiring a Communication Director. Please see the job ad here and pass this along to possible candidates.

https://www.chicagoriver.org/get-involved/job-opportunities/employment-with-friends

Thank you for your interest in Friends of the Chicago River. Our award-winning nonprofit is the only organization exclusively dedicated to improving and protecting the Chicago River. 

01/30/2020

Chicago Riverwalk gaining its first indoor dining space when Beat Kitchen opens new location this spring

We are excited to have a new neighbor opening this season - Beat Kitchen Riverwalk will be sharing our patio space and offering food, a full bar, and the only indoor dining space on the Chicago Riverwalk. Combine a trip to the museum with a stop at the Beat Kitchen this season.

https://www.chicagotribune.com/dining/ct-food-beat-kitchen-riverwalk-chicago-new-20200129-ozxw574uqffp7dlvgm2jk3py24-story.html

After 30 years on Belmont, Beat Kitchen — one of Chicago’s beloved music and dining venues — will be shaking a leg to the downtown riverfront in spring.

01/22/2020

Friends of the Chicago River

A reporter recently asked us, "So what's the big deal about native plants vs non-native plants?"
One big deal is that natives absorb water better, helping keep
pollution from running into the river. This absorption power , can also help reduce flooding by soaking up rainfall and melting snow before the sewage system gets overwhelmed.
These graphics help tell the story.

12/04/2019

Daily Planet 'Give A Shi*t' popup returns to the Bridgehouse Dec. 5-6 | Reel Chicago - Midwest film, audio, production, TV, and advertising

We are excited to open up the museum for two days this winter for the Daily Planet Productions GiveaShirt pop-up shop with all proceeds benefiting StreetWise. The shop will be open from 11am-7pm this Thursday and Friday. All shirts are made by local artists and a screen printing demo will be occurring on site. Stop in a take a look!

This year’s line of 'Give A Shi*t' t-shirts will debut at a popup store on Michigan Avenue and Wacker Drive on December 5 and 6

12/03/2019

For #GivingTuesday please consider a donation to Friends of the Chicago River, which operates the Bridgehouse Museum.

Today is #GivingTuesday, the annual event aimed at, after the long stretch of post-Thanksgiving spending, to consider one more expenditure: donating to your favorite non-profit.
All month we've been sharing #friendsfauna who live in around the Chicago River system--wildlife that benefit from Friends' work. We ask that you consider assisting in helping us improve and protect the waterway for people, plants and animals by donating through http://bit.ly/FriendsFauna

Today's final #friendsfauna is a special one: the Ruby meadowhawk dragonfly (Sympetrum rubicundulum)

As larvae, the ruby meadowhawk dragonfly have huge jaws and are voracious predators, eating aquatic insects, zooplankton, amphipods, and other small creatures, and even the occasional small fish. As adults, they are about 1.3 inches in length. Adult females have a yellow-brown appearance, while males have bright red markings. They prefer temporary ponds and marshes as their habitat.

This year, Friends of the Chicago River chose the Ruby meadowhawk dragonfly to represent our 40th anniversary. (40 is a ruby holiday.) Because dragonflies are highly sensitive to water quality, their presence indicates a healthy stream.

With your help we can build on the improvements of the last 40 years.

11/13/2019

We are in search of a professional, high resolution photograph for a new exhibit that will be debuting at the Bridgehouse Museum for our 2020 season.

We are searching for a photograph of the Chicago River System that has the following characteristics:

- Must not contain any people or man-made structures such as houses, bridges, or powerlines.
- Must include the river, naturally sloping banks free of (most) invasive species, and include some sky.
- Ideally, includes a mix of wildflowers, grasses, trees, and a meandering look to the river.
- Hi-resolution, minimum 300 dpi.

Please spread the word! This photo will be prominently featured in a new, permanent exhibit, and the selected photographer will be credited and invited to the opening event in May, 2020.

Please send all submissions or questions to [email protected]

Thank you!

**photo included for a not-quite-perfect example of what we are looking for**

11/04/2019

We are officially closed for the 2019 season! We open back up in May, 2020, but in the meantime keep an eye out for some special events:

We have added an additional Bridge Lift viewing for this Wednesday, Nov 6th at 9:30am. More info is found here:

http://www.bridgehousemuseum.org/events

Thank you for a wonderful season!

10/22/2019

The City of Chicago has confirmed the bridge lift for tomorrow, Wednesday, October 23rd. It will begin at 9:30am at Lake Shore Drive, which means our Michigan Ave. Bridge will likely lift sometime between 10:00-10:30am.

Would you like to see it lift from inside the museum? We have had a few reservations cancel for tomorrow so we have a few slots open. Please email [email protected] if interested in reserving a spot!

10/21/2019

You can help monitor and protect the Chicago River by taking part in the @earthecho Water Challenge!

The next time you visit, ask a museum associate for a river monitoring kit to conduct your own test and become part of a global effort to monitor rivers around the world! This is a great activity for families and kids.

#bridgehousemuseum
#MonitorWater
#earthechowaterchallenge
#chicagoriver

10/21/2019

Did you pick up a RedEye this week? We are on the cover! Check out the great story inside.

Good stuff from Chicago Tribune's RedEye...but then, we're a little biased.
Come visit our McCormick Bridgehouse & Chicago River Museum to see for yourself. We're on the #OpenHouseChicago tour this weekend. We close for the season Nov. 3

10/18/2019

It’s Open House Chicago this weekend! We are one of the 350 sites that are participating this year, which means that we are FREE all Saturday & Sunday! Stop by and check out the inside of the historic Bridgehouse at Michigan Avenue — and learn about the history of Chicago’s movable bridges and the Chicago River while you’re at it! @chiarchitecture #OHC2019

10/14/2019

The Chicago River’s Original Watershed, circa 1650.

Native Americans, such as the Chippewa, Ottawa, Potawatomi, and Miami, used the Chicago River and its portage for thousands of years. The waterways supplied sustenance for their communities and were lifelines for travel and trade.

#chicagoriver #bridgehousemuseum #chicagohistory
#chicagoriverwalk

10/14/2019

Friends of the Chicago River

Friends of the Chicago River

Could the Chicago River be re-reversed to flow back to Lake Michigan? It would cost an estimated $18 billion....and that's just the start of the difficulties...
WBEZ's Curious City investigated. (Friends Executive Director Margaret Frisbie talks with Carson Vaughan around the 3:45 mark.)
https://www.wbez.org/shows/curious-city/floods-carp-and-crap-the-environmental-impacts-of-the-chicago-river-reversal/df408b2a-16f0-44e1-8686-2668163993d2

10/12/2019

Today was another gorgeous day at the Bridgehouse and tomorrow is going to be even better because it’s free admission on Sundays! It will be one of our last of the season - won’t you come on by? Bring a friend! #chicagoriver #chicagobridges #bridgehousemuseum

10/08/2019

Are you a member, active volunteer, or donor of Friends? Come to our annual meeting on October 16th! RSVP for more info.

Are you a member, actiive volunteer, or donor of Friends? Our annual meeting is coming up on Oct. 16.
When you RSVP, we'll tell you the location.
The event is from 5:30 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. and includes food and drinks.
RSVP to Friends' Development Associate Cristine McDowell at [email protected] or call (312) 939-0490, Ext. 10.

10/07/2019

Share your insight and experiences! We look forward to hearing from you!
#bridgehousemuseum
#chicagoriverwalk
#bhmsurvey

10/05/2019

What a beautiful day for a bridge lift!

The fall bridge lift season is in full swing! You can watch the gears inside the DuSable bridge, operating the bridge in real time, by attending one of our Saturday Bridge Lift Viewings!

Tickets are still available for:
October 12th, 26th
November 2nd

Call or email @bridgehousemuseum to make a reservation!
#chicagoriver
#bridgehousemuseum
#chicagobridgelift
#riverwalk
#chicagoriverwalk

09/30/2019

Events — McCormick Bridgehouse & Chicago River Museum

We have just confirmed with the City of Chicago that the bridge lift this Wednesday, October 2nd, will be occurring. We still have openings for our Bridge Lift Viewing from inside the museum, during which you can watch the massive gears operate the bridge while a staff member interprets. For more information and to make a reservation, please see the events page below. You must make a reservation to attend.

http://www.bridgehousemuseum.org/events

The schedule is set for fall bridge lift viewings at the McCormick Bridgehouse & Chicago River Museum, and we are now accepting reservations! The available dates and times are as follows:

09/19/2019

A center pier swing bridge, South Branch Chicago River.

You won’t find many center pier swing bridges along the Chicago River System anymore.

These bridges opened more quickly than their predecessors, using a central pivot to swing open and make way for passing ships. As shipping boats became larger, however, these bridges fell out of favor along the narrow Chicago River.

Traffic along the river was impeded by the bridge’s large center, adding to congestion and delaying, what was then, a bustling port for trade.

What is your favorite kind of bridge along the Chicago River? Let us know in the comments below!

#chicagoriver
#chicagoriverwalk
#chicagobridges
#bridgehousemuseum
#tbt
#throwbackthursday

09/16/2019

We were happy (and honored) to host the EOC's Happy Hour ~ great views, great weather, and a great chance for environmentalists from all over to network. Thank you to all those who came out. The best part is that EOC raised $ to support immigration services and fight the fires in our beloved Amazon forest. Locally, we gave away Moonlight paddle tickets and Brookfield Zoo tickets.

Thanks, everyone!

We were happy (and honored) to host the EOC's Happy Hour ~ great views, great weather, and a great chance for environmentalists from all over to network. Thank you to all those who came out. The best part is that EOC raised $ to support immigration services and fight the fires in our beloved Amazon forest. Locally, we gave away Moonlight paddle tickets and Brookfield Zoo tickets.

Thanks, everyone!