Lake Claremont Press

When French explorers Jolliet and Marquette used the Chicago portage to access the Mississippi River system, the Chicago River was but a humble, even sluggish, stream in the right place at the right time. That's the story of the making of Chicago. This is the other story; the story of the making and perpetual re-making of a river by everything from pre-glacial forces to the interventions of an emerging and mighty city. Author Libby Hill brings together years of original research and the contributions of dozens of experts to tell the Chicago River's epic tale from its conception in prehistoric bedrock to the glorious rejuvenation it's undergoing today, and every exciting episode in between.

<em>Near West Side Stories: Struggles for Community in Chicago's Maxwell Street Neighborhood</em> is an ongoing story of unequal power in Chicago. Four representatives of immigrant and migrant groups that have had a distinct territorial presence in the area&mdash;one Jewish, one Italian, one African-American, and one Mexican&mdash;reminisce fondly on life in the old neighborhood and tell of their struggles to save it and the 120-year-old Maxwell Street Market that was at its core. <p> <em>Near West Side Stories</em> brings this saga of community strife up to date, while giving a voice to the everyday people who were routinely discounted or ignored in the big decisions that affected their world. Though slaying that dragon&mdash;fending off the encroachments of those wielding great power&mdash;was nearly impossible, we see in the details of their lives the love for a place that compelled Harold, Florence, Nate, and Hilda to make the quest.</p>

While America's Civil War was fought on Confederate battlefields, Chicago played a crucial role in the Union's struggle toward victory. <em>The Hoofs and Guns of the Storm</em> takes you through a whirlwind of 19th century events that created the foundation for modern-day Chicago. Discover: <ul> <li>The role Chicago played in Abraham Lincoln's unlikely bid for the Presidency </li> <li>Mary Todd Lincoln's trials and tribulations after her husband's assassination </li> <li>The hell on earth 6,000 Confederate prisoners went through at Camp Douglas, a P.O.W. prison just south of the city </li> <li>The Sanitary Fair and the women behind the war efforts </li> <li>How Chicago's Union Blue was streaked with hints of Confederate Gray </li> <li>Abolition leaders and the Underground Railroad </li> <li>John Wilkes Booth's acclaimed performances at the McVicker's Theater, and what this vainglorious actor and future assassin had to say about Lincoln in 1863 </li> </ul>

An anthology of Chicago's Maritime history, complete with vagabonds, romance, commerce, lighthouses and shipwrecks. Starting in 1673 when voyageur Louis Jolliet first realized the potential utility of the place that was to become Chicago and through the ensuing centuries, learn about this lively world of waterway history through a collection of writings, photos and artifacts.

A souvenir and guidebook to the Chicago River Architecture Tour.

A guidebook to Chicago's gay and lesbian communities by anthropologists and tourguides McDonald and Kathie Bergquist.

Perhaps no other city in America identifies itself with fire quite like Chicago does; certainly no other city cites a great conflagration as the cornerstone of its will and identity. Yet the Great Chicago Fire was not the only infamous blaze the city would see. Rather, as Chicago changed from agrarian outpost to industrial giant, it would be visited time and again by some of the worst infernos in American history&mdash;fires that sparked not only banner headlines but, more importantly, critical upgrades in fire safety laws across the globe. <p>In <strong>Great Chicago Fires</strong>, acclaimed author and veteran firefighter <strong>David Cowan</strong> tells the story of the other &quot;great&quot; Chicago fires, noting the causes, consequences, and historical context of each&mdash;from the burning of Fort Dearborn in 1812 to the Iroquois Theater disaster to the Our Lady of the Angels school fire. He also explores lesser-known fires such as fatal tenement and flophouse blazes that often underscore how poverty and poor living conditions set the stage for these urban catastrophes.</p> <p>Along the way, Cowan follows the colorful evolution of Chicago's firefighting forces from early 19th-century citizen bucket brigades to the armada of the modern day fire department, lacing his narrative with the dangers of his profession, including a vivid account of the worst day in American fire service history when twenty-one firefighters died battling a fire at Chicago's Union Stockyards.</p>

Chicago boasts more landmarks in blues history than any other place north of the Mississippi Delta. This guidebook brings together everything fans will need to know about the blues in Chicago for both newcomers and longtime devotees of the genre. A handy and informative way to enrich the experience of this celebrated music.

Being Irish in Chicago means you're blessed with proud heritage and with a hometown abundant in opportunities to celebrate your roots. Look beyond the shamrocks and green beer and into the heart and soul of Irish Chicago with this comprehensive guide.

A history and guide to Chicago' oldest clubs. Without the contributions made by the members of the city's private social clubs, Chicago would be a very different place than it is today. Serving once as oases for the economically and socially privileged, this is your chance to enter this eclusive world. Find further insight into how clubs once restricted by sex, race, and birthright have adapted to modern society.