McCormick Bridgehouse & Chicago River Museum — Attraction in Chicago

This is a nice museum. This bridge house has five floors, with a different theme for each floor. The first floor is home to exhibits that explain how the terrain of the Chicago area was shaped, and the lifts that lift up the DuSable Drawbridge, which was really cool to see. The second floor has exhibits explaining the history of Native Americans in Chicago and the first Europeans arriving to Chicago. The third floor explains what Chicago was like in the 1800s and the construction of bridges across the Chicago River and the beginning of its pollution. The fourth floor had exhibits about the pollution of the Chicago River and what was done dato fix it. The fifth floor has exhibits about how clean the Chicago River is today and information about what the Friends of the Chicago River Organization (which runs the museum) is doing to keep the River clean. I gave this museum five stars because it was very cool to see the lifts beneath the DuSable Bridge along with old bridge operating equipment on the third floor. Considering the price of things in Chicago, the $8 admission fee is a...

My favorite sort of museum is the sort that both curates history and IS a piece of living history itself. The Bridgehouse and Chicago River Museum fulfills both of these criteria. As both a history major and lifelong Chicagoan I still learned an enormous amount of things I'd never known before, especially about the ecology of the river. Seeing the gears on the bottom floor is fascinating and the view from the top floor is spectacular. Our tour guide was supremely informative, engaging, and enthusiastic, providing detailed answers to every question we asked. I still wouldn't go swimming in the Chicago River but now I feel safe knowing I won't get toxic waste poisoning if I accidentally fell in.

I went while still on crutches from a hip injury, and while the stairs were a bit of a challenge there were plenty of places to sit and rest on each floor of the museum. A great place to bring a friend from out of town and to explore...

I visited the McCormick Bridgehouse & Chicago River Museum around 10:00 AM, unsure if there would be a bridge lift event that day. Fortunately, Josh was incredibly helpful and explained that the bridge lift was likely to happen between 11:00 AM and 1:00 PM. Thanks to his clear and thoughtful communication, I was able to return around noon and witness the fascinating bridge lift in person!

Inside the museum, there’s a great exhibit that explains the mechanics behind the bridge and offers rich insight into its history and cultural significance. I especially appreciated the short “intel” session before the event, which included a sound signal (a ring) that helped me anticipate the exact moment to start taking photos.

Overall, I highly recommend the McCormick Bridgehouse & Chicago River Museum. Josh’s outstanding communication made my visit truly memorable. Thanks...