The Chicago River: A Natural and Unnatural History [Paperback]

Libby Hill (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: August 1, 2000

American Regional History Publishing Award - 1st Place - Midwest Region

Midwest Independent Publishers Association Merit Award - 2nd Place - History

One of ten "outstanding nominations" for the Abel Wolman Award for the best new book in the field of public works history

Used and abused. Straightened and channelized. Reversed and revered. But never ignored...

An Intimate Biography of the Heroic Creek that Chicago Made

When French explorers Jolliet and Marquette used the Chicago portage to access the Mississippi River system, the Chicago River was but a humble, even sluggish, stream in the right place at the right time. That's the story of the making of Chicago. This is the other story--the story of the making and perpetual re-making of a river by everything from pre-glacial forces to the interventions of an emerging and mighty city.

Editorial Reviews

Review

" ... A fascinating book ... a remarkable document ... a great enjoyment ... not as ballyhooed as Harry Potter, but it should be..." -- --Rick Kogan, WGN Radio, “The Sunday Papers, ” July 2, 2000 <br /><br />"...presents an outstanding historical survey of the Chicago River from its creation by pre-glacial forces..." -- --Midwest Book Review, August, 2000 <br /><br />"...reintroducing me to a body of water I thought I knew, surprising me with new facts, and delighting me..." -- --David Jones, Community Planner, Friends of the Chicago River <br /><br />" ... A fascinating book ... a remarkable document ... a great enjoyment ... not as ballyhooed as Harry Potter, but it should be..." -- --Rick Kogan, WGN Radio, “The Sunday Papers, ” July 2, 2000 <br /><br />"...presents an outstanding historical survey of the Chicago River from its creation by pre-glacial forces..." -- --Midwest Book Review, August, 2000 <br /><br />"...reintroducing me to a body of water I thought I knew, surprising me with new facts, and delighting me..." -- --David Jones, Community Planner, Friends of the Chicago River <br /><br />Hill tells this complex story in human terms, such as the 'kidnapping' of dredging equipment from Wisconsin and secretly opening the Sanitary and Ship Canal in order to forestall a lawsuit from Joliet. . . . [She] makes the story even more graphic by frequently pointing out specific locations to show the effects of glaciers, floods, droughts, and erosion in shaping an area where more than six million people live. If you are among them, after reading a few chapters, you may begin to feel that the land around you is very special indeed. --Wayne Klatt, Journal of Illinois History<br /><br />Imagine reading a biography of your spouse or best friend, and being surprised and delighted at the biographer's fresh take on somebody you thought you knew pretty well. Libby Hill has done that with this book, reintroducing me to a body of water I thought I knew, surprising me with new facts, and delighting me with new ways of thinking about the facts I thought I had mastered. --David Jones, Friends of the Chicago River<br /><br />Libby Hill's The Chicago River is the result of years of painstaking research and presents an outstanding historical survey of the Chicago River from its creation by pre-glacial forces, to the days of the French explorers using it to access the Mississippi, to its contemporary presence in one of the most densely populated urban areas in the Midwest. The Chicago River is an in-depth, comprehensive work that reveals the never ending struggle between humans and nature over the centuries, as well as the commercial, recreational, and ecological projects currently underway on and in the river. The Chicago River is highly recommended, rewarding reader for those with an interest in Chicago, natural history, environmental issues, and Midwestern history. --Midwest Book Review<br /><br />Hill tells this complex story in human terms, such as the 'kidnapping' of dredging equipment from Wisconsin and secretly opening the Sanitary and Ship Canal in order to forestall a lawsuit from Joliet. . . . [She] makes the story even more graphic by frequently pointing out specific locations to show the effects of glaciers, floods, droughts, and erosion in shaping an area where more than six million people live. If you are among them, after reading a few chapters, you may begin to feel that the land around you is very special indeed. --Wayne Klatt, Journal of Illinois History<br /><br />Libby Hill's The Chicago River is the result of years of painst --Midwest Book Review

Libby Hill's The Chicago River is the result of years of painstaking research and presents an outstanding historical survey of the Chicago River from its creation by pre-glacial forces, to the days of the French explorers using it to access the Mississippi, to its contemporary presence in one of the most densely populated urban areas in the Midwest. The Chicago River is an in-depth, comprehensive work that reveals the never ending struggle between humans and nature over the centuries, as well as the commercial, recreational, and ecological projects currently underway on and in the river. The Chicago River is highly recommended, rewarding reader for those with an interest in Chicago, natural history, environmental issues, and Midwestern history. --Midwest Book Review

Hill tells this complex story in human terms, such as the 'kidnapping' of dredging equipment from Wisconsin and secretly opening the Sanitary and Ship Canal in order to forestall a lawsuit from Joliet. . . . [She] makes the story even more graphic by frequently pointing out specific locations to show the effects of glaciers, floods, droughts, and erosion in shaping an area where more than six million people live. If you are among them, after reading a few chapters, you may begin to feel that the land around you is very special indeed. --Wayne Klatt, Journal of Illinois History

About the Author

With her history-sociology-librarian-geography-ecology background, Libby Hill is the ideal biographer of her beloved Chicago River. Libby teaches with the Geography and Environmental Studies Department at Northeastern Illinois University and works for the Northeastern Illinois Planning Commission (NIPC).

Product Details

• Paperback: 302 pages
• Publisher: Lake Claremont Press; 1st edition (August 1, 2000)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 189312102X
• ISBN-13: 978-1893121027
• Product Dimensions: 9 x 6.1 x 0.7 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.8 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (6 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #485,635 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

7 of 8 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars The Chicago River and More, January 14, 2001

By 

Sharon Gurwitz "hifromnewyork" (New York, NY USA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: The Chicago River: A Natural and Unnatural History (Paperback)

This book delivers on its title by providing a thorough account of the natural and unnatural (affected by humans) history of the Chicago River. Although the title is apt, it understates the breadth of fascinating material in the book. The "natural history" covers every facet of the river and its environs and provides a good primer about nature in general and the effect that people can have on it. Through the "unnatural history" we learn about the growth of Chicago and its suburbs as well as the Midwest and the United States, with the unifying theme of the river holding everything together.

It's clear that a huge amount of research went into this book, and even technical sections are presented clearly and enlivened by interestuing tidbits of information. I wish this book existed when I lived in Chicago. I would have had a much greater appreciation of what was around me.

7 of 9 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars CHICAGO, WISCONSIN?!?!?, September 17, 2000

By 

[e-mail] (NE IL.) - See all my reviews

This review is from: The Chicago River: A Natural and Unnatural History (Paperback)

This is one of the strange and interesting facts found in this book. The author spent six years meticulously researching and writing this book about "the historic creek that Chicago built". The book does many things for Chicago's history: it gives a great perspective of the political realities of managing one of the main forms of transportation in the city's early growth; it describes the economice of developing the land along the river (and its many courses); and it shows the part the river played in the lives of everyone along its banks. The drawings and maps in the book are carefully chosen to give the reader an accurate visual picture of the times. My favorite is the one on pg. 96 where men are lifting an entire hotel to accomodate the installation of sewers in the city. I also loved the story about the "kidnapped dredge"! The last third of the book is very pertinent to the people in the area who truly love the outdoors. It describes the development of the Skokie Lagoons and the Chicago Botanic Garden where many of us bird and the start of the natural areas restoration for which Chicago has become so well known along the banks of the North Branch. For folks who grew up in or near the city, the neighborhood references are sure to bring back fond memories but, even for those of us who did not grow up in this area, there is much to learn. This book would be a great addition to a reference library or a wonderful gift for someone interested in Chicago and its varied history. Looking for the answer to the question that began this review? Well, you'll have to read the book to see how a stroke of luck- or a pen!- made us the "City of Big Shoulders" rather than the "City of the Northwoods"!

5.0 out of 5 stars Chicago history must have, March 21, 2011

By 

David L. Gudewicz (Grayslake, IL USA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: The Chicago River: A Natural and Unnatural History (Paperback)

This book is a must have for those interested in Chicago's history. Simply put - no river, no Chicago.

The author tells a very detailed story of the river from its beginnings to modern day and how the river has changed both by the forces of nature and the forces of man. It has furthered my appreciation of the city and its surroundings. It is a wonderful addition to my library.