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The Clark Street Bridge is a bascule bridge that spans the Chicago River in downtown Chicago, connecting the Near North Side with The Loop.[2]
[edit] History
The current bridge, which was completed in 1929,[1] is the third bridge to span the river at this point. In 1853 the original bridge was struck by a steamer, called the London, and collapsed, blocking traffic on the river. The bridge was dredged and river traffic resumed on September 8.[3] In 1854, the city approved an expenditure of $12,000 to replace the bridge with a pivot bridge.[4] During the Lager Beer Riot in 1855, the bridge was pivoted to help contain the rioters.[5]
The Eastland was supposed to sail from the dock at the Clark Street Bridge on July 24, 1915 when it capsized.[6]
[edit] In popular culture
In 1916, Carl Sandburg wrote the poem "Clark Street Bridge". [7]
[edit] References
- ^ a b c Chicago River Bascule Bridge, Clarke Street, Spanning Chicago River at Clarke Street, Chicago, Cook County, IL. Historic American Engineering Record . Retrieved on 2007-05-28.
- ^ a b c Clark Street Bridge. historicbridges.org. Retrieved on 2007-05-28.
- ^ "Column 1", Chicago Tribune, 1853-09-09, pp. 3.
- ^ "Clark Street Bridge", Chicago Tribune, 1854-02-11, pp. 2.
- ^ "Trail of the Rioters", Chicago Tribune, 1855-06-21, pp. 2.
- ^ Dewey - Addams - Chicago. Retrieved on 2007-03-08.
- ^ Sandburg, Carl (1916). Chicago Poems. Henry Holt.
[edit] External links
- Survey number HAER IL-64 - Chicago River Bascule Bridge, Clarke Street, Spanning Chicago River at Clarke Street, Chicago, Cook County, IL
