1900day.year
Chicago Canal opens.
The Chicago Canal opened in 1900, creating a vital waterway link between the Great Lakes and the Mississippi River system.
Conceived to alleviate pollution and improve navigation, the canal project reversed the Chicago River's flow away from Lake Michigan and into the Mississippi watershed. When it officially opened on January 2, 1900, barges could travel directly from the heart of Chicago to the Gulf of Mexico without unloading cargo. Engineers employed a series of locks and a deepened channel to overcome elevation challenges and ensure sufficient water levels. The canal spurred Chicago's growth as a transportation and industrial hub, linking midwestern farms to national and international markets. However, the reversed flow also carried sewage away from Lake Michigan, raising concerns about downstream water quality. Over time, the canal has been expanded and remains a key component of the North American inland waterway network.
1900
Chicago Canal