Chicago River Bridges presents the untold history and development of
Chicago's iconic bridges, from the first wood footbridge built by a
tavern owner in 1832 to the fantastic marvels of steel, concrete, and
machinery of today. It is the story of Chicago as seen through its
bridges, for it has been the bridges that proved critical in connecting
and reconnecting the people, industry, and neighborhoods of a city that
is constantly remaking itself. In this book, author Patrick T. McBriarty
shows how generations of Chicagoans built (and rebuilt) the thriving
city trisected by the Chicago River and linked by its many crossings.
The first comprehensive guidebook of these remarkable features of
Chicago's urban landscape, Chicago River Bridges chronicles more than
175 bridges spanning 55 locations along the Main Channel, South Branch,
and North Branch of the Chicago River. With new full-color photography
of the existing bridges by Kevin Keeley and Laura Banick and more than
one hundred black and white images of bridges past, the book unearths
the rich history of Chicago's downtown bridges from the Michigan Avenue
Bridge to the often forgotten bridges that once connected thoroughfares
such as Rush, Erie, Taylor, and Polk Streets.
Throughout, McBriarty delivers new research into the bridges'
architectural designs, engineering innovations, and their impact on
Chicagoans' daily lives. Describing the structure and mechanics of
various kinds of moveable bridges (including vertical-lift, Scherer
rolling lift, and Strauss heel trunnion mechanisms) in a manner that is
accessible and still satisfying to the bridge aficionado, he explains
how the dominance of the "Chicago-style" bascule drawbridge influenced
the style and mechanics of bridges worldwide. Interspersed throughout
are the human dramas that played out on and around the bridges, such as
the floods of 1849 and 1992, the cattle crossing collapse of the Rush
Street Bridge, or Vincent "The Schemer" Drucci's Michigan Avenue Bridge
jump.
A confluence of Chicago history, urban design, and engineering lore,
Chicago River Bridges illustrates Chicago's significant contribution
to drawbridge innovation and the city's emergence as the drawbridge
capital of the world. It is perfect for any reader interested in
learning more about the history and function of Chicago's many and
varied bridges. The introduction won The Henry N. Barkhausen Award for
original research in the field of Great Lakes maritime history sponsored
by the Association for Great Lakes Maritime History.
