🕰️ The Time Chicago Reversed a River (And Got Away With It)
In the long, illustrious history of American engineering hubris, Chicago’s decision to reverse an actual river ranks somewhere between “Wait, what?” and “No, seriously, they did what?”
This isn’t folklore or exaggerated legend — in 1900, Chicago literally changed the direction of the Chicago River so that it would stop carrying sewage into Lake Michigan, the city’s own source of drinking water. Genius? Maybe. Gross? Definitely. Hilarious in retrospect? Oh, absolutely.
đźš˝ The Problem: Poop in the Water Supply
In the late 1800s, Chicago was booming. But with every new resident came a little more sewage… all of which drained into the Chicago River. As a result, that same river flowed directly into Lake Michigan — the city’s primary source of drinking water.
As you might imagine, this turned into a public health nightmare. Outbreaks of cholera and typhoid fever weren’t just common — they were expected. So city leaders had a choice:
A) Create a modern sewage treatment system like everyone else, or
B) Reverse an entire river.
Naturally, you can guess which one they picked.
🛠️ The Plan: Let’s Just… Turn It Around
Instead of addressing the problem with conventional solutions, engineers proposed digging a 28-mile-long canal to connect the Chicago River with the Des Plaines River, part of the Mississippi watershed. Once the canal was open, gravity would do the rest. The river would flow away from Lake Michigan, carrying Chicago’s, uh, “contributions” toward the Mississippi instead.
After years of construction, sweat, and disbelief, the Chicago Sanitary and Ship Canal opened on January 2, 1900. When they finally breached the dam…
The river reversed.
Surprisingly, it worked.
⚖️ The Aftermath: “Hey! You Can’t Just Do That!”
As soon as the water started flowing south, St. Louis — located downstream — cried foul. After all, no one wants upstream sewage suddenly rerouted to their backyard. The state of Missouri sued Illinois, taking the case all the way to the U.S. Supreme Court.
Despite the drama, the Court’s decision was clear:
Chicago could keep the river flowing backward.
Because of course they could.
So, for over a century, the Chicago River has flowed in the opposite direction from nature’s original plan. Today, it’s a popular kayaking route and the site of an annual green dye job every St. Patrick’s Day — you know, to honor the city’s legacy of making the impossible seem like a mildly chaotic Tuesday.
đź’ˇ Fun Flowing Facts:
- 🌊 The reversed river flows into the Mississippi River system, eventually reaching the Gulf of Mexico.
- ⚖️ The Supreme Court case was Missouri v. Illinois (1906).
- 🚢 The canal was later deepened and widened to support shipping traffic.
- 🍀 Every year, Chicago dyes the river green for St. Patrick’s Day — as if reversing it wasn’t wild enough.
- 🏗️ The project inspired modern wastewater management systems around the world… after everyone stopped being mad about it.
đź“ŤWant More Bizarre But True Tales?
Check out another favorite: The Battle of the Frogs – Connecticut’s Loudest (and Strangest) Night
Or dive into the full collection at WhichStates.com 🌎
