Video | The Race to Reverse the River | Chicago Stories

From the city’s earliest days, Chicago residents and businesses alike dumped waste into the Chicago River, which flowed into Lake Michigan, contaminating the city’s drinking water, causing widespread disease and death. To combat the problem and save the city, one bold solution was proposed: reversing the flow of the river away from the lake. Audio-narrated descriptions are available.

In the 19th century, the water in the Chicago River and Lake Michigan amounted to a public health crisis.

On January 2, 1900, Chicago reversed its river, and the positive changes in the health of the water were soon evident.

Environmental groups discuss the health of the Chicago River today.

Enjoy a couple of minutes of peace and fly with a drone that follows the Main Branch and South Branch of the Chicago River.