The Chicago Historical Society was founded in 1856, but its first building and virtually all of its early collections were lost in the Great Chicago Fire. This structure, the Society's third home, was built on the same site as the first two, at the northwest corner of Dearborn and Ontario Streets. After the Chicago Historical Society moved to its current location at Clark Street and North Avenue in 1932, this building went through a series of owners and uses, though the original name remains inscribed in stone over the entrance. Photographer: Barnes-Crosby Source: Chicago Historical Society (ICHi-19139) http://encyclopedia.chicagohistory.org/pages/10590.html
After multiple delays, the Link Bridge (also called the Outer Drive Bridge) was officially opened on October 5, 1937, with President Franklin Roosevelt in attendance. This was a much larger project than might appear, given the engineering challenges that had to be met and the massive amount of structural steel required. The day was observed with great fanfare, including a celebratory spray from the new fireboat Fred Busse, named after the mayor at the time the Plan of Chicago was released in 1909. In the first half-hour following the 1 p.m. opening, 36,000 vehicles crossed the bridge, with traffic slowed by the distribution of souvenir windshield stickers. A lower level was subsequently added. While the bridge eased congestion on Michigan Avenue, the roadway's sharp angles immediately proved to be a problem. A little before 3 a.m. on October 8, two different northbound drivers were the first of many who failed to negotiate the turns and suffered an accident. This hazard was not finally corrected until the completion of the current S-curve in 1986. Source: Chicago Historical Society (ICHi-37016) http://encyclopedia.chicagohistory.org/pages/6413.html
At 4:00 p.m. on the sunny afternoon of May 14, 1920, Chicago Plan Commission Chairman Charles Wacker and Board of Local Improvements President Michael Faherty stood beside Mayor William Hale "Big Bill" Thompson as he cut the ribbon to open the upper level of the new Michigan Avenue Bridge. The sporty Thompson doffed his cowboy hat, the crowd pressed up against ropes that were there to contain it, fireworks were shot into the sky, planes dropped booster literature, boats in the river sounded their whistles, and a band played "The Star-Spangled Banner." Workers on the still uncompleted lower level remained busily on the job during the ceremonies. Photographer: J. Sherwin Murphy Source: Chicago Historical Society (ICHi-29306) http://encyclopedia.chicagohistory.org/pages/10487.html
