Welcome!
Nestled inside the southwest bridge tower on the Michigan Avenue Bridge, the McCormick Bridgehouse & Chicago River Museum tells the story of the Chicago River.
The McCormick Bridgehouse & Chicago River Museum (formerly the McCormick Tribune Bridgehouse & Chicago River Museum) uncovers the marvels of the Chicago River. Visitors find themselves inside the southwest bridge tower of the Michigan Avenue Bridge where each of the five-stories of the Bridgehouse Museum captures a critical moment in the history of the Chicago River. Surrounded by snippets from various stages of the river’s uses, visitors explore visions for the river realized or forgotten. The historic bridge tower is itself a relic of another time, when bridge tenders operated the opening and closing of the bridge from the narrow tower. The Bridgehouse Museum also houses the gears of the landmark bridge. Visitors to the Bridgehouse Museum are treated to a rare look at the interworkings of the bridge that is lifted by two 100 horse powered engines.
