Over 100 beautiful color and B&W photographs of the Chicago River's history are published together with an entertaining and informative narrative text. This visually captivating journey serves as an enjoyable exploration of the Chicago River's amazing history.

From its origin as a small natural river to its dramatic transformation into a modern navigational connection between the Great Lakes, Illinois, and Mississippi River systems, the Chicago River has been shaped by human ingenuity, economic need, and even disaster. Astonishing tales of exploration and settlement, pollution and recovery, highlight the vital link between the welfare of Chicago and the condition of the Chicago River--a relationship that continues to evolve with the growing needs of the expanding metropolis.