Down in the depths beneath our feet lies a forgotten marvel. The City Water Tunnel Shaft. A silent testament to Chicago’s ingenuity and its fight against a deadly foe.
This isn’t just any tunnel. This is one of the original tunnels built to bring clean water to a burgeoning city. Back in the 1800s Chicago’s water was dangerously polluted. Raw sewage flowed directly into Lake Michigan. The water near the shore was unsafe to drink. Disease was rampant. Thousands died from cholera outbreaks.
Engineer Ellis Chesbrough devised a brilliant solution. He proposed a tunnel stretching two miles into Lake Michigan to reach cleaner water. Construction began in 1864. Imagine the backbreaking labor. Two shifts of men toiled day and night. They dug by hand through clay and gravel. Mule-drawn railcars hauled away the excavated earth. Another crew followed laying two layers of brick to line the five-foot diameter tunnel. This was a monumental undertaking.
The two crews working from opposite directions met in November 1866. They were less than seven inches out of alignment. An incredible feat of precision considering the methods used. This first tunnel fed water to a pumping station. By 1874 a second tunnel was complete. Today Chicago boasts sixty-five miles of water supply tunnels. Some extend four miles under the lake.
The original Two-Mile Tunnel and crib were eventually demolished in 1936. A testament to how infrastructure evolves. But this shaft remains a poignant reminder of the challenges overcome. A tribute to those who worked tirelessly. They laid the foundations of a city’s survival. They built a legacy beneath our feet. This humble shaft stands as a symbol of their perseverance. A symbol of Chicago’s resilience in the face of adversity. Remember this as you continue your tour.