Overview

Author Libby Hill brings together years of original research and the contributions of dozens of experts to tell the Chicago River’s epic tale from its conception the prehistoric bedrock to the glorious rejuvenation it’s undergoing today, and every exciting episode in between.

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9780809335305

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Reviews

An impressively thorough, unexpectedly engaging account of the lazy stream that is Chicago s raisond etre. Deanna Isaacs, Chicago Reader A fascinating book . . . a remarkable document . . . a great enjoyment. . . . There are a million things in this book that surprised me. Rick Kogan, WGN Radio From geology to the human dramas and epic engineering that brought us today s river system, it is all here. Hill is a river enthusiast and a meticulous detective. The book has an abundance of maps and intriguing photographs, and when documents were contradictory or nonexistent, Hill and her husband went into the field to track down evidence. River Reporter A great guide to the geologic origins of modern Chicago [and] a fine guide to the making of Chicago. Dolores and Roger Flaherty, Chicago Sun-Times Libby Hill sThe Chicago Riveris the result of years of painstaking research and presents an outstanding historical survey of the Chicago River from its creation by pre-glacial forces, to the days of the French explorers using it to access the Mississippi, to its contemporary presence in one of the most densely populated urban areas in the Midwest.The Chicago Riveris a highly recommended, rewarding read for those with an interest in Chicago, natural history, environmental issues, and Midwestern history. Midwest Book Review Anyone who reads this book will never again take our hometown stream for granted. It s a must read for all Chicago buffs. Bill Hinchliff, veteran docent for the Chicago Architecture Foundation

An impressively thorough, unexpectedly engaging account of the lazy stream that is Chicago s raisond etre. Deanna Isaacs, Chicago Reader A fascinating book . . . a remarkable document . . . a great enjoyment. . . . There are a million things in this book that surprised me. Rick Kogan, WGN Radio From geology to the human dramas and epic engineering that brought us today s river system, it is all here. Hill is a river enthusiast and a meticulous detective. The book has an abundance of maps and intriguing photographs, and when documents were contradictory or nonexistent, Hill and her husband went into the field to track down evidence. River Reporter A great guide to the geologic origins of modern Chicago [and] a fine guide to the making of Chicago. Dolores and Roger Flaherty, Chicago Sun-Times Libby Hill s The Chicago River is the result of years of painstaking research and presents an outstanding historical survey of the Chicago River from its creation by pre-glacial forces, to the days of the French explorers using it to access the Mississippi, to its contemporary presence in one of the most densely populated urban areas in the Midwest. The Chicago River is a highly recommended, rewarding read for those with an interest in Chicago, natural history, environmental issues, and Midwestern history. Midwest Book Review Anyone who reads this book will never again take our hometown stream for granted. It s a must read for all Chicago buffs. Bill Hinchliff, veteran docent for the Chicago Architecture Foundation

"""Who wrote the book on the Chicago River? That was Libby Hill when The Chicago River: A Natural and Unnatural History was first published. Now--like the river--that book has been updated and rejuvenated, and is more important than ever.""--Richard Cahan, coauthor of The Lost Panoramas: When Chicago Changed Its River and the Land Beyond ""Hill infuses the rigorous research of an academic with the lively storytelling of a writer who clearly has a deep affection for her subject. Hill's work has long been the definitive resource for anyone interested in the history of the Chicago River. But as Hill writes, 'Rivers are a continuum over space and time.' This revised edition brings the story up to date. The once-unloved Chicago River is lucky to have a voice in Libby Hill.""--Geoffrey Baer, WTTW (PBS), Chicago ""What a spectacular story! From bridges to boating, from portages to canals, from tribal lands to river walks, from marshes to channels, Libby Hill provides us with a lively and provocative history of the Chicago River. By focusing on the river, Hill interweaves the environmental, economic, and political history of the region.""--Ann Durkin Keating, North Central College ""Hill's revised edition of The Chicago River: A Natural and Unnatural History weaves a practical account of the river's workhorse history with the details of the decades-long effort to undo the damage done. Highlighting the complications the river faced and still faces, this fascinating account will open readers' eyes.""--Margaret Frisbie, executive director, Friends of the Chicago River ""To read the story of the Chicago River--from thriving ecosystem to open sewer and back again--is to grapple with the meandering, complex values of our changing society. In this essential revised edition, Libby Hill masterfully narrates the river's history in a comprehensive account as clear-eyed as it is hopeful.""--Debra Shore, former editor of Chicago Wilderness Magazine, commissioner of the Metropolitan Water Reclamation District of Greater Chicago ""An odyssey of personal discovery, Hill's revised edition is alive and fresh. More than an update of the first edition, it contains new topics reflecting the dynamic river. By casting aside unessential details and infusing new topics, Libby's words will ignite your interest and grab your hand to go along with her on an urban river adventure.""--Richard Lanyon, author of Building the Canal to Save Chicago"

An impressively thorough, unexpectedly engaging account of the lazy stream that is Chicago s raisond etre. Deanna Isaacs, <i>Chicago Reader</i> A fascinating book . . . a remarkable document . . . a great enjoyment. . . . There are a million things in this book that surprised me. Rick Kogan, WGN Radio From geology to the human dramas and epic engineering that brought us today s river system, it is all here. Hill is a river enthusiast and a meticulous detective. The book has an abundance of maps and intriguing photographs, and when documents were contradictory or nonexistent, Hill and her husband went into the field to track down evidence. <i>River Reporter</i> A great guide to the geologic origins of modern Chicago [and] a fine guide to the making of Chicago. Dolores and Roger Flaherty, <i>Chicago Sun-Times</i> Libby Hill s<i>The Chicago River</i>is the result of years of painstaking research and presents an outstanding historical survey of the Chicago River from its creation by pre-glacial forces, to the days of the French explorers using it to access the Mississippi, to its contemporary presence in one of the most densely populated urban areas in the Midwest.<i>The Chicago River</i>is a highly recommended, rewarding read for those with an interest in Chicago, natural history, environmental issues, and Midwestern history. <i>Midwest Book Review</i> Anyone who reads this book will never again take our hometown stream for granted. It s a must read for all Chicago buffs. Bill Hinchliff, veteran docent for the Chicago Architecture Foundation

Author Information

Libby Hill is an environmentalist and educator who has worked as a librarian and a college instructor. She can be found in the woods or on the beach volunteering for ecological restoration projects, writing for her local newspaper, or working with others on regional environmental issues.

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