20th Bridgehouse Museum Season Opens in One Week
The McCormick Bridgehouse & Chicago River Museum reopens in just one week, kicking off its 20th season on May 9, Chicago River Day.
As the educational hub of Friends of the Chicago River and a cultural landmark on the Chicago Riverwalk, the museum invites visitors to discover the remarkable transformation of the Chicago-Calumet River system. Through engaging exhibits, visitors learn of the river’s early role in Indigenous trade and settlement, the challenges of industrialization and pollution, and today’s transformative work to protect and restore it as a healthy, biodiverse, climate-resilient river for people and wildlife.
More than 400,000 people have visited the five-story landmark bridgehouse and its captivating exhibits over the past two decades. This summer, the popular Happy Hour Speaker Series returns June 4 to the museum, bringing engaging discussions on the river system’s people, water, and wildlife. Held on the museum’s outdoor plaza, these free talks will take place on select Thursdays from June through September.
The Bridgehouse Museum offers a sliding scale, pay-what-you-can admission, to help ensure equitable access to all. The museum is also an extraordinary venue for special events, from birthdays and corporate retreats to private dinners and weddings.
Rent the Bridgehouse Museum for your special events!
With roughly 1,200 sq. ft. of space and a capacity of 79 people indoors, the landmark Michigan Avenue Bridgehouse is ideal for intimate receptions, both private and corporate. Each rental also includes the use of our riverwalk plaza, with spectacular views of the river and downtown Chicago visible only from inside our unique space. For rental information, contact Josh Coles at jcoles@chicagoriver.org.
The Bridgehouse Museum is open Wednesday through Sunday from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m., with guided tours available for an additional cost. Visit bridgehousemuseum.org for more information.
