Lyons Township in Forest View in Cook County, Illinois — The American Midwest (Great Lakes)

Chicago Trades on its Natural Advantages

Photographed by Lou Donkle, February 9, 2024

1. Chicago Trades on its Natural Advantages Marker

Inscription.
Better transportation to markets in the East helped turn the Midwest's natural resources into commodities. Grain from farmlands that replaced the tallgrass prairie now filled canal boats and ships headed to markets in the east. Vast pine forests to the north became finished lumber sold in Chicago.

While the Portage connected Lake Michigan with the Mississippi River, and the I&M Canal improved the link, a new wider canal, the Chicago Sanitary and Ship Canal, allowed even larger ships. Chicago became the country's busiest inland port. Chicago's railroads also expanded trade and speeded transportation. The manufactured and natural goods of the Midwest are still in demand and move over a transportation network that began where you're standing.

Erected by Cook County Forest Preserve District.

Topics. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Charity & Public Work • Industry & Commerce.

Location. 41° 48.289′ N, 87° 48.165′ W. Marker is in Forest View, Illinois, in Cook County. It is in Lyons Township. It can be reached from the intersection of Portage Trail and Harlem Avenue (Illinois Route 43), on the right when traveling south. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 4800 S Harlem Ave, Berwyn IL 60402, United States of America. Touch for directions.

Regionally, this marker is in Greater Chicago.

It is also in the American Midwest

and on the Great Lakes.

Globally, it is in North America,

the Western Hemisphere,

the Western World,

and the Anglosphere.

Historically, it finds itself in what was once the Viceroyalty of New France,

the territory of the Mississippian Culture,

and the Northwest Territory.

Other nearby markers.

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At least 8 other markers are within walking distance of this marker: The Chicago Portage Site at the Forest Preserves of Cook County (here, next to this marker); The Chicago Portage: A History of People and Travel (a few steps from this marker); Portage Creek Passage (within shouting distance of this marker); Chicago Portage Timeline (within shouting distance of this marker); Chicago Portage National Historic Site (within shouting distance of this marker); The Chicago Portage (within shouting distance of this marker); Portage Passage (about 400 feet away, measured in a direct line); 09.11.2001 (approx. 0.4 miles away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Forest View.

Pavilion with markers image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Lou Donkle, February 9, 2024

2. Pavilion with markers

Credits. This page was last revised on August 22, 2024. It was originally submitted on August 20, 2024, by Lou Donkle of Valparaiso, Indiana. This page has been viewed 152 times since then and 13 times this year. Photos: 1, 2. submitted on August 20, 2024, by Lou Donkle of Valparaiso, Indiana. • Devry Becker Jones was the editor who published this page.