McCormick Bridgehouse & Chicago River Museum

01/02/2025

Friends of the Chicago River has released River Resolutions for the New Year, 12 actions and ideas that the people of the watershed can embrace to improve the health of the 156-mile Chicago-Calumet River system and its tributary streams for all people, water, and wildlife. Click the link for more: https://tinyurl.com/Resolutions2025

10/18/2024

Tonight's the night! Do you dare to creep, crawl, and have a ball this evening at the 3rd Annual Eerie Evening at the McCormick Bridgehouse & Chicago River Museum? Join us on the Riverwalk from 7 to 10 p.m., for an all-inclusive Halloween party featuring local drinks from Two Brothers Brewery, entertainment, and chilling stories of Chicago’s past. Get your tickets now! Clink the link: https://www.chicagoriver.org/events/eerie-evening-at-the-bridgehouse-museum

10/17/2024

Tickets are still available for Eerie Evening at the Bridgehouse Museum on Friday October 18th! This end-of-the-season fundraiser celebrates the museum's 2024 season inside our transformed 104-year-old historic bridge tender house. Guests will climb the tower as guides describe three dark but true Chicago stories. On our plaza we will have music, snacks, some great raffle prizes, and a screening of a documentary depicting the Eastland Disaster.

Each advance registration will also have a chance to win tickets to see Maggie Rogers at the United Center on October 24th! 2 pairs of tickets are available.

Tickets available here: https://www.chicagoriver.org/events/eerie-evening-at-the-bridgehouse-museum

10/16/2024

Just two more days until Eerie Evening! Get your tickets today!

Eerie Evening at the Bridgehouse Museum is coming up and we are offering discounted tickets when you buy two or more! Only $45 per person for the spookiest night on the Chicago Riverwalk! Featuring music, scary stories/scenes inside our 104 year old tender house, a documentary screening, and an open bar from Two Brothers Brewing Company!

One night only! October 18 from 7-10pm. Don't miss out!

https://www.chicagoriver.org/events/eerie-evening-at-the-bridgehouse-museum

10/10/2024

Eerie Evening at the Bridgehouse Museum is coming up and we are offering discounted tickets when you buy two or more! Only $45 per person for the spookiest night on the Chicago Riverwalk! Featuring music, scary stories/scenes inside our 104 year old tender house, a documentary screening, and an open bar from Two Brothers Brewing Company!

One night only! October 18 from 7-10pm. Don't miss out!

https://www.chicagoriver.org/events/eerie-evening-at-the-bridgehouse-museum

10/09/2024

Our Halloween party/fundraiser Eerie Evening is approaching next week, Friday October 18th! Don't miss out on this fun and spooky event!

Tickets to the Eerie Evening include:
- An open bar with beer and cocktails from Two Brothers Brewing Company
- A transformed 104 year old historic bridge tender house with scenes from Chicago's dark past. Stories from this true events will be told by guides while guests climb through the tower.
- Our Riverwalk plaza will be activated with music, snacks, and a short documentary screening of the Eastland Disaster.

Don't miss out! Tickets are available here:

Eerie Evening at the Bridgehouse Museum Friday, Oct 18, 2024 7:00pm - 10:00pm Tags: Attend, McCormick Bridgehouse and Chicago River Museum, and Ticketed events Eerie Evening at the Bridgehouse Musem Friday, October 18 7 - 10 p.m. McCormick Bridgehouse & Chicago River Museum, 99 Chicago Riverwalk $60...

09/20/2024

Eerie Evening at the Bridgehouse Museum is coming up on October 18th! Join us to celebrate spooky season in a 104-year-old historic bridgetender house. The museum will be transformed for the occasion, spooky & true stories of Chicago's past will be told within the building, plus guests are welcome to drinks, snacks, music, and live entertainment on our riverfront plaza.

Tickets are available now, so don't miss out!

09/20/2024

Bridge Lift Viewings begin tomorrow, 9/21 at the Bridgehouse Museum! Make your reservation today for this one-of-a-kind experience!

08/23/2024

Friends of the Chicago River's Autumn Cruise is coming up in just a few weeks! This fun, evening cruise supports all operational costs of our McCormick Bridgehouse and Chicago River Museum which educates over 30,000 people every year.

Tickets to the cruise are currently on sale and include an open bar courtesy of Molson Coors and Olé & Obrigado, small bites from Lawrence's Fish & Shrimp, live bluegrass music, educational docent work, and great company! Our great partners at Wendella provide the 2 hour cruise.

We greatly appreciate our sponsors for this year's Autumn Cruise!

Watershed Sponsors this year are CIBC and The Wrigley Building.

Confluence Sponsors are Saul Ewing LLP and Bally's Chicago.

Sponsors are Hornblower Cruises & Events, d'Escoto, Inc.., Weaver Consultants Group, The Fletcher Family, Orren Pickell Building Group, and Chicago Brewhouse.

Tickets are available: https://www.chicagoriver.org/events/autumn-cruise-31aa2601-ffda-4b3f-b840-64b52d711f26

08/15/2024

Due to rain, this event is postponed until Thursday September 5th.

Join Illinois Answers Project as they partner with Friends of the Chicago River and the McCormick Bridgehouse & Chicago River Museum to present "Chicago Underwater: A Discussion on the Impact of Flooding" next Thursday, August 15.

CNT's Cyatharine Alias joins their panelist discussion on the critical issue of flooding in Chicago with Dan Pogorzelski, Princess Shaw, and moderator Alex Nitkin. Find out more information and register here https://www.eventbrite.com/e/chicago-underwater-a-discussion-on-the-impact-of-flooding-tickets-965242866397

06/19/2024

Coming up next Thursday, June 27th from 5-6pm on our Riverwalk Plaza is our first Happy Hour Speaker Series of the season. Join us for this free, informative lecture, plus beverages from Marz Community Brewing and The Northman Riverwalk.

Stories of Fish Travels: Why Shedd Aquarium is tracking the journey of fish in the Chicago River

Austin Happel, PhD. Research Biologist focusing on freshwater ecosystems
Jaclyn Wegner, Senior Director Conservation Action

The Chicago River is teeming with wildlife, but what exactly is going on under the water’s surface? The Shedd Aquarium team has embarked on a new effort to track 80+ fish as they go about their lives throughout the Chicago River and beyond. Observing where these fish go and how they utilize different features of the river ecosystem is, in turn, informing restoration activities from shoreline improvements to the installation of floating wetlands. Learn more about Shedd’s scientific research and river revitalization efforts then find out how you can get involved.

More info at https://www.chicagoriver.org/events

06/19/2024

Coming up next Thursday is our Happy Hour Speaker Series featuring river experts from the Shedd Aquarium.

Join us at Friends' on June 27 as we kick off our Happy Hour Speaker Series with Stories of Fish Travels: Why is tracking the journey of fish in the Chicago River!

Enjoy local beverages out on our Riverwalk plaza from 5-6pm while you learn about the river's revival. Free and open to the public, and donations are welcome to support programs at the Bridgehouse Museum.

04/04/2024

We are hiring Museum Associates for the 2024 season through October! More information and how to apply can be found here:

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 system for people, plants, and animals. 

03/27/2024

We are hiring for the 2024 Bridgehouse Museum season! Three museum associate positions are available (2 full-time, 1 part-time). Please pass along to anyone who may be interested in spending the Spring-Fall on the Chicago Riverwalk.

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 system for people, plants, and animals.