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Book Review
| The Chicago River: An Illustrated History and Guide to the River and Its Waterways. 2nd ed. By David M. Solzman. Chicago and London: University of Chicago Press, 2006. xiii + 289 pages. Includes illustrations, bibliography, and index. Cloth $20.00.
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| As the archetypal American industrial city and a metropolis that helped transform the Midwest into the nation's agricultural heartland, Chicago is of special interest to many environmental historians. In the second edition of The Chicago River, David Solzman updates his examination of the city's eponymous river. |
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In section 1 of the book, Solzman provides a brief history of the region's landforms and waterways. With the aid of maps and diagrams, chapter 2 surveys the physical geography of this "decidedly swampy" area (p. 9). Chapter 3, which will be of most interest to students of environmental history, traces the alterations made to the waterways of the Chicago region since the 1830s. Solzman's main theme here is how Anglo-Americans transformed the waterscape to lay the foundation for the emergence of Chicago as the dominant entrepôt city of the Midwest. Alterations like the construction of the Illinois and Michigan Canal and the famous reversal of the Chicago River created a water network that "connect[ed] the flowing waters of the mid-continent to the open waters of the Great Lakes" (pp. 5–6). |
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Section 2, which comprises the bulk of the book, contains two "trips" on the river and its related waterways. Here Solzman draws on his experience as a leader of river cruises to guide the reader, in remarkable detail, on tours that describe the watercourses and their landscapes and recount innumerable aspects of the area's history and lore. This section is complemented by maps that will be of particular use to canoeists or others interested in the recreational opportunities afforded by the river. |
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In both sections of the book, Solzman's message is generally optimistic. Solzman notes recent developments, for example, that have made the river cleaner and its shoreline more inviting for residential and recreational uses. Much of this improvement stems from the decline of heavy industry in the region, while groups such as the Friends of the Chicago River have helped clean and preserve riparian habitats. |
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Solzman's book represents an impressive feat of research and demonstrates the author's remarkable knowledge of the river. Solzman describes the present-day river and recounts its lore in prose that is clear and smooth. Students of environmental history may desire more scrutiny than Solzman provides; the book is generally more narrative and descriptive than analytical. For example, Solzman notes an 1856 shift from private to public bridge building. While he observes that public bridge construction was "strongly opposed initially" (p. 37), he provides no discussion of who opposed municipal financing, who supported it, or what were the consequences of this shift. |
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Solzman argues that the river "is the thread that binds together virtually all elements of Chicago's history" (p. 57). The wealth of information provided throughout the book certainly suggests this is the case, but the relative brevity of section 1 means Solzman cannot explore fully how Chicago's waterscape shaped and was shaped by human history. Still, this handsomely illustrated and well-written book will be useful for those interested in Chicago history and will be an indispensable guide for those who may wish to explore the river for themselves. |
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Theodore A. Strathman teaches United States history at the University of San Diego. His research focuses on water politics in San Diego County. |
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