The Loop District in Chicago in Cook County, Illinois — The American Midwest (Great Lakes)
Illinois and Michigan Canal
Photographed by Sean P. Flynn, September 10, 2024
1. Illinois and Michigan Canal Marker
1836-48 Jolliet's dream to cut through the portage and thus, create a way to the Gulf via the Mississippi was finally realized with the completion of the Illinois and Michigan Canal. Many were hired to hand-dig the 60' wide and 6' deep canal. Barges were towed through the shallow waters.
1840 The Clark Street float bridge was the first of its kind to be built. By 1848 three more were added at Wells, Randolph and Kinzie Streets but all were destroyed by the Great Flood of 1849.
Erected 2000.
Topics and series. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Bridges & Viaducts • Exploration • Waterways & Vessels. In addition, it is included in the Illinois & Michigan Canal series list. A significant historical year for this entry is 1836.
Location. 41° 53.274′ N, 87° 36.846′ W. Marker is in Chicago, Illinois, in Cook County. It is in The Loop District. It is at the intersection of Chicago Riverwalk and Jean Baptiste Point du Sable Lake Shore Drive (U.S. 41), on the right when traveling west on Chicago Riverwalk. The mural is in the underpass beneath Lake Shore Drive. Touch for map. Marker is in this
this page online
Regionally, this marker is 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. At least 8 other markers are within walking distance of this marker: Chicago in the 1830s (a few steps from this marker); South Branch of the Chicago River 2000 (a few steps from this marker); Riverview Park (a few steps from this marker); A Century of Progress (a few steps from this marker); Chicago Riverwalk 2000 (a few steps from this marker); Chicago River 2000 (a few steps from this marker); The Michigan Avenue Bridge (a few steps from this marker); The Burnham Plan (a few steps from this marker). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Chicago.
More about this marker. The mural is one of several erected in the Chicago Riverwalk's tunnel beneath Lake Shore Drive, close to where the Chicago
Photographed by Sean P. Flynn, September 10, 2024
2. Chicago Riverwalk murals beneath Lake Shore Drive
Regarding Illinois and Michigan Canal. The canal remained open to commerce from the 1850s until the 1930s, but its prominence had diminished significantly by the 1880s, first by railroads and later by the Sanitary and Ship Canal, which opened in 1900 and runs parallel.
Also see . . .
1. Encyclopedia of Chicago: Illinois and Michigan Canal.
Excerpt: "Louis Jolliet first suggested the possibility of such a link in 1673 when he encountered the Chicago Portage. The idea was taken up in 1822, when Congress made an initial land grant to Illinois for constructing a canal. Justus Post and Renι Paul made the first survey of possible routes. In 1830 the canal commissioners platted Chicago and Ottawa in the vain hope of raising sufficient money by selling land from a second land grant. The commissioners and private speculators platted numerous towns in the 1830s and 1840s, including Lockport, Joliet, Channahon, and LaSalle, as well as other towns that did not survive."(Submitted on December 5, 2025, by Sean P. Flynn of Oak Park, Illinois.)
2. History of the I&M Canal. (Submitted on December 5, 2025, by Sean P. Flynn of Oak Park, Illinois.)
Chicago Daily News Collection, Chicago History Museum (DN-0060495), 1913
3. Illinois and Michigan Canal in Summit, Illinois
This location is about 14 miles southwest of Chicago.
Credits. This page was last revised on December 6, 2025. It was originally submitted on December 5, 2025, by Sean P. Flynn of Oak Park, Illinois. This page has been viewed 52 times since then and 21 times this year. Photos: 1. submitted on December 5, 2025, by Sean P. Flynn of Oak Park, Illinois. 2. submitted on December 4, 2025, by Sean P. Flynn of Oak Park, Illinois. 3. submitted on December 5, 2025, by Sean P. Flynn of Oak Park, Illinois.
