Michigan Avenue Bridge Lecture @ Friends' Bridgehouse Museum

Tags: McCormick Bridgehouse and Chicago River Museum and Ticketed events

On Thursday, September 18 at 12 noon, join Friends of the Chicago River at our McCormick Bridgehouse & Chicago River Museum for a lecture exploring the significance of the Michigan Avenue Bridge. Patrick McBriarty, author of the recent book Chicago River Bridges and co-producer of the documentary Chicago Drawbridges, will explain the genesis, importance, and impact of Chicago’s most iconic bridge on bridge design and on the city that made it. 

Replacing four consecutive Rush Street Bridges preceding it, the two side-by-side, double-deck, double-leaf structures comprising the Michigan Avenue Bridge provided a boon to the city, improved transportation, spurred economic growth, and created the Magnificent Mile. The bridge has been jumped, been featured in scores of movies, acted as a huge catapult, greeted hundreds of thousands of ships and boats, and still provides a key connection between the North and South sides of the city.  Learn all about this fantastic bridge from its grand opening ceremony in 1920 on up to today.

The lecture is included with museum general admission, and general admission is always free for Friends of the Chicago River members. Reservations are recommended and can be made by calling the museum at (312) 977-0227. Feel free to bring your lunch.

The Bridgehouse Museum is located at 376 N. Michigan Avenue. Main entrance is located on the Riverwalk level.