Clark Street Bridge

You’ve probably crossed the Clark Street Bridge in Chicago without even realizing it. It’s one of those structures you just pass by without really noticing. But this bridge has a rich history, spanning almost 200 years. The Clark Street Bridge you see today is the eighth bridge to stand at that spot. The first one was a floating pontoon built back in 1840! The bridge has been there ever since but has seen its share of accidents and disasters. The bridge was struck and collapsed in 1853, and it even had a part in containing rioters in 1855. The last swing bridge at Clark Street was removed in 1929 after a collision with a sand-sucking vessel, a rather ironic accident considering most people think of the Chicago River being filled with water and not sand. The current bridge is a bascule bridge, which means it has a movable section that can be raised to allow boats to pass. This design marked the end of the swing bridge era on the Main Stem of the Chicago River, and although it is not the most aesthetically pleasing bridge in Chicago, it was completed six months ahead of schedule, and it surely made a statement! The bridge was even the stage for a concert in 2007 by the Clark Street Bridge Percussion Orchestra, which consisted of six professional drummers and hundreds of participants! Just imagine those funky beats echoing off the steel structure! The bridge is now a part of the Chicago Riverwalk, a beautiful public space with views of the city skyline. However, did you know that the river is not full of river water? Because of the height of Chicago, the river often has been flooded before, and to prevent that, the water comes from the Great Lakes. So next time you cross the Clark Street Bridge, take a moment to appreciate its history. It was built in 1929, and it has been a part of Chicago’s story for almost a century. And maybe, just maybe, you’ll even hear the echo of a drum in the wind.