We visit the The McCormick Bridgehouse & Chicago River Museum to celebrate the Chicago River and its world-famous movable bridges.Michigan Avenue bridge aka DuSable bridge view from the McCormick Bridgehouse Museum. 

The landmark five-story bridgehouse is alive with stories of the past, details of the bridge and vivid stories about the many people inspired by the potential of the Chicago River. The Chicago River has played a central role in the development of the Chicago region and continues to do so today as a natural, economic and recreational resource. In Daniel Burnham’s 1909 “Plan for Chicago”, Michigan Avenue Bridge is the first double-deck, double-leaf, fixed trunnion bascule bridge ever built that make a huge impact as a gateway between Chicago’s north side and south side.

Edward Bennett designed the bridge and its four bridgehouses following the Beaux-Arts style and in keeping with Burnham’s concept. A bascule bridge is a drawbridge hinged with a counterweight that continuously balances the leaf (or long arm that crosses the river). Trunnion refers to the pin and supporting bearing that forms the hinge, allowing the bridge leaves to move up and down. The balance of the approximately 4,100-ton bridge leaf and 12,000-ton counterweight of the bridge is so precise, it only takes a 108-horsepower motor to open and close each leaf. The motor powers a series of gears, the last of which is called a pinion gear. The pinion gear grasps grooves mounted on the bridge counterweight, pushing the counterweight side downwards into a counterweight pit and lifting the bridge’s long arm up in the air. It’s still an engineering wonder even today, the bridge’s massive gears are viewable from bottom level of the Bridgehouse Museum.

On bridge lift days every spring and fall, the museum’s gear room truly comes to life, giving visitors a behind-the-scenes look at the moving gears as they lift the massive Michigan Avenue bridge leaf, allowing boat traffic to pass through the heart of Chicago – a spectacular, deeply authentic Chicago event. In the 1920s, the Michigan Avenue Bridge would lift more than 3,000 times a year. Thanks to my cousin, she gives us quite a treat as Wabash Avenue Bridge lifted to meet the sky after my visit there.

In 1928 sculptures depicting scenes from Chicago’s history were added to the outward-facing walls of the four bridgehouses. The sculptures on the northern bridgehouses were commissioned by William Wrigley, Jr., and are by James Earle Fraser: The Discoverers depicts Louis Joliet, Jacques Marquette, René-Robert Cavelier, Sieur de La Salle and Henri de Tonti;The Pioneers depicts John Kinzie leading a group through the wilderness.The sculptures on the southern bridgehouses were commissioned by the B. F. Ferguson Monument Fund, and are by Henry Hering: Defense depicts Ensign George Ronan in a scene from the 1812Battle of Fort Dearborn;Regeneration depicts workers rebuilding Chicago after the Great Chicago Fire of 1871.

A quick peak of Chicago downtown from Millneum park makes me fall in love with this wind city a little more.

Not to mention, a small water canal was built along the walk through the park, Let city people take a break from their busy day, take a dip, submerg their feet and relax a little. A green space was developed in the forest of all the skyscrapers kind of provides a life balance between industrial and natural side.

Sitting in the middle of Millennium Park is Cloud Gate aka the Bean. Cloud Gate is a public sculpture by Indian-born British artist Anish Kapoor, made up of 168 stainless steel plates welded together, its highly polished exterior has no visible seams. It measures 33 by 66 by 42 feet (10 by 20 by 13 m), and weighs 110 short tons.

After 2hr waiting in line…we finally get to the skydeck , experience  the feeling of being at mid air on 103th floor Willis tower. It’s totally worth it for a lifetime experience.

Awesome backyard brunch at Homeslice  Pizza.

Brunch can’t be completed without house special bloody Mary and yes that’s a cold slice pizza on top.

SHEFFIELD Roughage have  mixed greens, mandarin oranges, avocado, bacon bits & lemon poppy seed dressing, topped with red onions & Gorgonzola crumbles.

Main dish is Mercernary pizza with blackened chicken, pepperoni, jalapeños, sour cream, diced romas, green onions, mozzarella, provolone, cheddar & cream cheese.

Chitown I am gonna miss you 😭😭😭😭😭

See you next time