The Chicago River: A Meandering Prairie Stream

“Arriving at Douglas Grove, where the prairie could be seen through the oak woods, I landed, and climbing a tree, gazed in admiration on the first prairie I had ever seen. The waving grass, intermingling with a rich profusion of wild flowers, was the most beautiful sight I had ever gazed upon…while to give animation to the scene, a herd of wild deer appeared, and pair of red foxes emerged from the grass…I saw the whitewashed buildings of Fort Dearborn sparkling in the sunshine…I was spell-bound and amazed at the beautiful scene before me.” Henry E. Hamilton, 1818

Before there were bridgehouses and skyscrapers, the Chicago River flowed slowly and meandered through wetlands, prairies, and wooded areas. And it had flourished for thousands of years.

The river was alive with insects, frogs, and fish. River otters, beavers, and turtles occupied the riverbanks. Squirrels and hawks made the woods their homes, and coyotes and prairie chickens roamed the prairies.

Human occupants—Native Americans, French explorers, and traders—used the river for transportation, trade, and sustenance.

However, after the establishment of Fort Dearborn, rapid settlement radically changed this vista. Westward expansion and the growth of a city caused people to find new uses for the Chicago River, altering its course forever.