Before and After

The construction of the Sanitary and Ship Canal was an enormous undertaking, but with an equally enormous reward: reversal of the flow of the Chicago River. By 1907 a new water connection had been created between the Great Lakes and the Gulf of Mexico. As Isham Randolph, the canal's chief engineer described:

There was daring, there was genius

There was brain and there was brawn

And from their gendered labor

Twas a River that was born

Before and After Water Release on the Sanitary and Ship Canal, January 16, 1900

Photographers: Unknown
Source: Chicago Historical Society

The landscape changed dramatically with the construction of the main channel of the Sanitary and Ship Canal and then was transformed again when water was released into the channel.

See also: Water, Sanitary and Ship Canal

Santa Fe Railroad Bridge at Lemont, October 18, 1899

Photographers: Unknown
Source: Chicago Historical Society

In all, 13 new bridges had to be constructed so that existing roads and railroads could traverse the space now occupied by the canal. This view shows the Santa Fe Railroad Bridge before water is released into the channel below it.

See also: Lemont, Bridges

Santa Fe Railroad Bridge at Lemont, April 3, 1900

Photographers: Unknown
Source: Chicago Historical Society

This is a view of the Santa Fe Railroad Bridge after water has been released into the channel in the winter of 1900.

See also: Lemont, Bridges