This museum is located on the Chicago River in the southwest corner of the Michigan Avenue Bridge. General admission is a pay-what-you-can donation that helps the Friends Of The Chicago River association. This is a five-story, tower style museum. Due to this, there are no elevators, so it is not ADA accessible. The museum illustrates the history of the Chicago River to include how they reversed its flow to benefit the city. It is only open from May through October, so check their website for operating hours. read more

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NOTE: Due to the narrow build of the historic bridgehouse, this is not wheelchair accessible sadly. Free!!! I had some time to kill before my flight home-- found myself by the river at the McCormick Bridgehouse Museum. Great way to learn about the history of the city. And they take donation by Apple Pay! Around 30 mins~ to go through all 5 floors of the exhibition displays and labels. Self-led with some interactive pieces. Really cool and in-depth info about the Chicago River's role in city development. Staff are knowledgeable and friendly! There are some labels that are a little janky or worse for wear, but nothing egregious-- it's free, after all! read more

OMG! The McCormick Bridgehouse & Chicago River Museum has given me a second career to think about once I retire. The first was during our stay at the Sable Hotel in Nay Pier. Will sitting in the window, drinking bubbles, I watched the boats going in and out of the locks, I declared in a loud voice to The Doctor that I wanted to become the lock operator. Well if that job doesn't come through, operating the gears to raise the bridge is my new one. I have lived in Chicago all my life, born and bred, and I am a lover of all of the bridges in our town. I had no idea about this museum. It is down on the riverwalk on the Chicago River. The first time The Doctor and I went, it was by accident that we discovered it during one of our staycations. The museum is a five story building. There is no specific fee to enter, but they do take donations. Each floor is filled with historical goodies about the bridges, gears, mechanisms, etc. At river level, The Doctor and I geeked out as we are gears heads. We were able to see the gears that are responsible for raising the bridge. Imagine our surprise to discover that the engine, named Earle, that operates the bridge is kind of like a 1950's Volkswagen Bug. Hearing that made me think of the first time I went to the Museum of Science and Industry to discover that Man went to the moon in something that looked like a washing machine and was operated by computer was didn't even come close to the power of my Samsung phone! But being a gear head, I know that the counter weights literally do the heavy lifting. It was cool to see the lower street levels through the gaps in the structure. Once we got our fill of viewing the gears, we made our way up each level to see the various artifacts and historical musings about Chicago and the different types of bridges in the city. Be prepared to get in some steps (wear your Fitbit or favorite tracker). It was a very interesting visit and I learned a lot about our history with the bridges. Upon leaving, we discovered that the museum does tours of the bridge raising, so we made an reservation to attend. Tickets were $15 each and we were told to arrive at 9:15 am. First thing I discovered during the tour was that there are people in various positions in the gear area as well as the lower sections of bridges. Once the bells went off, Earle started roaring and the gears started turning. It was so cool to see the gears turning and watching the lower section of the bridge for Lower Wacker go up! Once the bridge went up and the gears stopped, The Doctor and I made our way upstairs to see the bridges in the air. It is an interesting process as one bridge at a time goes up and the next one doesn't go up until the other one is in place. So it was cool to see the State Street bridge go up next and watch the Michigan Ave bridge come down. This is not an experience that I would have normally planned for an early Saturday morning, but it was so much fun and we really enjoyed it. The tour season is over as October 25 was the last viewing, but I would highly recommend that once the museum starts the tours again, make a reservation to go and see the bridges go up and down. It was truly magically for us. read more

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Had the chance to visit during Open House Chicago and it was really awesome to see all the old gears and hydrolics used to raise and lower the bridge system of the Chicago River. The tour was self guided but the signage was descriptive and the staff was knowledgeable for answering a few questions I had. Be advised: there are only narrow stairwells with 4 levels so not recommended for handicapped or uncoordinated individuals. I think my favorite part was learning the history and being able to better appreciate just how complex it all is. read more

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Have lived in Chicagoland for years and had no idea of the existence of this museum. Located on the Riverwalk, we just happened to stumble upon it. It was free for us when we went - I think there is an entrance fee on certain days? Don't quote me on that! It's pretty easy to miss. Has tons of information on the Chicago river and the bridge systems with the mechanical and hydraulic systems used to operate the bridge. Apparently there is also a guided tour also that has a cost - we did the self guided tour. To be honest my husband engineer probably found it more interesting than I did! Has 5 stories with lots of stairs which are pretty narrow, can look out the windows into the river. Takes maybe 20 or so minutes give or take - but would definitely recommend checking out particularly on a free day! read more

A cool museum that unfortunately many people walk past without even knowing it's there. I learned so much about the Chicago River on my brief visit here. I'll be coming back. read more

Here is another museum to check out on the correct day and you can get admitted free. It's not that big of a museum, it's just that it's narrow and goes high. McCormick Bridgehouse And Chicago River Museum is the full name of this. Just know this is the museum in the bridge. The exhibits are pretty simple but these tell a lot about the history of the bridgehouse and how it works. A warmer day to visit is usually more enjoyable. It can get pretty drafty inside, and feels especially cold in winter time. This is in the southwest bridge tower of the Michigan Avenue Bridge at Wacker. It can be accessed at several different levels. The best is the ground level, because the museum goes up. Start at the bottom. This is where to see the gears. Also this is where the history timeline begins. It's free admission on Sundays. Even though it can be fun, it's not quite worth the regular admission. The whole thing getting through is probably not even an hour. Certainly it's interesting for people who like bridges. It's also good to check out if wanting to know more about the Chicago River and the importance of it to water supplies and such. The museum isn't that big so be sure to make up for it by getting free admission on Sundays, checking out the gears, and look out the windows for some good views. read more

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it was free on Wednesdays and it was walking distance from my dad's work. I took the stairs to get there by the bridge. read more

McCormick Bridgehouse & Chicago River Museum - This was in the middle level of the museum viewing the Chicago River and I was playing my Pokemon go game on my phone. - Museums Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

Interesting little museum about Chicago history and its bridges. A look at the River when it was full of poop,dead animals and floating bodies. Worth the brief stop it requires. Lots of stairs so be prepared. read more

We went in on a whim and (frankly) has low expectations... How could something free and in such a small footprint be good? It was surprisingly good, and informative. We learned about the operation of the bridges, the history of Chicago and the river, and how the use has changed. We scanned the qr codes and watched the videos, which were worth the extra time. Definitely stop on if you have a few minutes to a half an hour read more

"Splurged" for the $15 guided tour. Our tour guide Joe was kind, knowledgeable, and incredibly interesting! Tailored the tour to the participants, lots of time for questions, made history and engineering really engaging, and was not rude or anything when non-tour members stopped to listen in as well. Really great underrated Riverwalk attraction. read more

McCormick Bridgehouse & Chicago River Museum - View from the second floor - Museums Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

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The McCormick Bridgehouse and Chicago River Museum is a mouthful, but this smallish museum is a fun place to pop into if you are around the Chicago Riverwalk and North Michigan Avenue. The museum incorporates the Southwest Bridgetower at Michigan Avenue and Wacker Drive. You can see the gears of the DuSable Bridge (formerly called the Michigan Avenue Bridge) and a few displays as well. However, the main joys of a visit here are walking up the tight stairs of the tower to see all the nooks and crannies, and then checking out the fantastic views from the windows. This museum is open seasonally, and there is amazingly free admission on Sundays so check it out once things open up again in the city. read more

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This was kind of a cool little find we had while waiting for our Architectural Boat Tour and trying to avoid some moisture in the air. Huge bonus, if you find yourself in the area on a Sunday, there is no admission fee. I think regular price was about $15.00. As you travel from flight to flight they tell a nice history and even get you up close and personal with the draw bridge gears. That being said, for a 15 - 20 minute distraction it's pretty cool. I don't think I would be thrilled to pay $15 to walk through. Now, the exception to that, they have times set aside when they work the drawbridge and you can get tickets to observe how this is done. I think that would be really cool to be able to watch that. Easy to miss as it's tucked away on the side of the bridge, easy to miss if you blink. Fun to check out, especially on Sunday (free day!! read more

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Cool little piece of history on how the drawbridges work on the Chicago River. Not as much mechanical information as I would've liked but if we had known we could see that stuff on the ground floor we might've come around the time that the bridges open automatically to see them in action. There are four flights below the first level so there is a lot of stairclimbing to do and the stairwell is quite narrow. It is free on Sundays so I would recommend going then. If you miss it you are not missing too much but if you're walking by you might as will spend the five or six minutes it takes to go through the place. read more

McCormick Bridgehouse & Chicago River Museum - Gear! - Museums Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

This was a surprising find in Chicago. On Sundays you can go in for free (not sure if there's a fee any other time - the door was locked on Monday when we stopped by). A series of simple displays on multiple floors tell the story of Chicago's moveable bridges. You also get a good primer on the history of water in Chicago and the city's infrastructure. It's interesting for sure! My favorite part was walking into the mechanized area to see how they open the bridge. Apparently you can get tickets to be inside "the works" on the limited days the bridge opens. I would love to do that! read more

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I'm not going to say this is the best museum I've ever been to or even the most convenient. But what I will say is that this museum is so worth a walk through especially on a Sunday when it's free. It's a self guided tour of a pretty famous bridge in Chicago and a lot of the facts presented are very interesting. I've actually toured a few bridges both nationally and internationally and the sheer amount of knowledge and facts put up here are numerous and great. I had no idea the name Chicago meant "striped skunk" in Miami after the leeks that grew on the river. I'm not sure how accessible it is as there were a lot of stairs we had to go up and down (and they're very narrow) so I would consider that if you have problems with tight spaces. Definitely a nice way to spend an hour during your Riverwalk experience. read more

McCormick Bridgehouse & Chicago River Museum - entrance at river but there's also one on top of the bridge - Museums Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

It appears to be very small when you enter, but walking through the entire five floors (no elevators), there is so much history and information. It was really a great experience. It's not for everyone, but if you've lived in Chicago your entire life, this is worth checking out! read more

I was an one of the river cruises when I saw this hidden museum and I knew I would like to check it. Ok, this is not one of the most popular museums Chicago offers, however, it was very interesting. The museum is full of history regarding the various bridges though out the city including the bridge houses. There were many times, I have walked past these houses and didn't notice that they were even there. The day I went, they were offering a guided tour. The guide, Jim was great. He gave us the history about the styles of the houses and facts about the river. There is so much to do along the river that I realized. Check out this museum. read more

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Very very cool little museum inside the Michigan Ave bridge. The entire museum is situated vertically inside one of the four bridge tours. I'm guessing the vast majority of people walking/driving by have no idea this place exists. 'sLots of exhibits about Chicago's and the river's history. The views from the top are pretty and give you a different perspective than most are use to. The lower portion where you can see the bridge gears is also cool although I wish I could've been inside when it was in action. Ticket to get in costs $4 although it happened to be free during my visit. The museum is not that big but variety is always the spice of life and this fits that bill. read more

McCormick Bridgehouse & Chicago River Museum - Museums Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

I'M IN A BRIDGE...TOWER! My little one had never seen a bridge go up or down. So we went to go check out the bridges. She had the time of her life getting to experience this. Most people feel annoyed when stuck by a bridge but its kind of cool standing next to the bridge when its in action. We then headed to the Bridge Tower. I had never been in one and this would be the ultimate to cap off our bridge experience. The entrance is located at the River Walk level on Michigan and Wacker. Once you walk in you immediately are directed towards the giant gears that open and close the bridge. These things are massive and totally greased up. There is a fence around it but you can get up and close to it. Along the museum there are tons of signs telling you about the bridges and how the river shaped Chicago. My favorite was the Bridge Facts and Trivia. Did you know that the motor that runs the bridge is the equivalent to a 1950's VW Bug? I was so shocked. I would have expected the motor to be bigger. But because of the counter weight of the bridge a massive motor is not needed to operate it. Now I must warn you that there are stairs to climb, if you want to go to the top. So if you're challenged by them, then this place may not be for you. But if you do decide to go up you will be able to read tons of facts. It is a self guided tour and you can go as fast or as slow as you want. So stop reading my review and start hiking up the 5 stories to the top! Make sure you check out the windows for unique views from the different vantage points. There is a massive round window at Bridge Level with a great view of the Trump Tower. Keep heading up and you're at the top and feeling like Rapunzel trapped in a tower. It is cool to see all of the cars driving by Michigan Ave and across the bridge. You can also see all of the boat traffic too. The Bridge Master sees everything from up here. The view up here gives you a 360 view of everything surrounding the bridge. Once you are done you now need to make your way down the 5 stories to leave. I recommend you are careful because this is a shared staircase between up and down. It seemed really easy going up but on the way down we had to stop a lot for people coming up. It is challenging and I am sure I will not ever do this tour once I turn 60 because I am not breaking a hip in the Bridge Tower. Luckily I have a few years until that time, so I am hoping to come back again to experience the Bridge Tower. The best part of my tour was the education. On the way to the Bridge Tower I taught my little one all about water and boats and how Chicago grew so fast because people and goods could use the rivers to travel here. Then seeing the bridges going up and down showed her how important the mobility of the bridges was back then. Finally we capped off our educational tour by being in the Tower. It was a fun experience and my little one loved every minute of it. I do recommend you try and visit on a Wednesday or a Saturday when the bridges are going up in the Fall to get the sailboats off of Lake Michigan for the Winter. I believe it makes the experience that much more enjoyable. read more

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If you've always wanted to go into one of the Chicago River bridgehouses downtown or to learn more about the Chicago waterway/river system, this is an excellent little museum. The main entrance is at riverwalk level, on the West side of the Michigan Ave. bridge along the South bank. Checkout the newly expanded riverwalk while you are here too, they did an excellent job on it, even though it was another multi-million dollar Mayor Daley pet project. It is nice and if it brings enough people to all the new riverside cafes, it could eventually be worth the cost and then some. On to the museum.....the museum is very small, consisting of several levels inside the bridgehouse from the top observation level down to the lower depths below the bridge. Some highlights include going in the mechanical room that houses the engines and gears that raise/lower the bridge. Very fascinating if you are into serious mechanical/engineering stuff.. Its fun to be all the way down there and hearing the thundering traffic on the bridge a couple of stories above your head. The various levels are filled with well-done pictures, information, exhibits on the founding of Chicago, the river itself, how the movable bridges work, how the Chicago river was reversed, etc. Makes you truly appreciate the incredible engineering that goes into our sewer and waterway systems. Views of Michigan Avenue, the bridge and river are to be found on the top level. Bring your camera. read more

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Not the biggest museum, but at only 6$ admission it is worth the time and money. Get an inside look at the mechanism that raises the bridge. See the Giant Gears! Climb up into the tower and get some unique views of the the river and the Michigan Ave bridge. Many exhibits showing the changes to the Chicago River over the years. read more

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The museum is very small, consisting of several levels inside the bridgehouse from the top observation level down to the lower depths below the bridge. Inside all the walls in old photos and news paper clippings and written blurbs. Lot of information if you have interest for bridge construction or history. Ticket costs $4 although I visited for free in Sunday. read more

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What Chicagoan hasn't walked past a bridgehouse at least a thousand times? Only a few have been admitted inside, and I sure wasn't one of them. Playing tourist along Michigan Avenue on a recent Saturday, I stumbled into the McCormick Bridgehouse Museum -- my very first time in a bridgehouse! Only a true-blue Chicagoan can understand how exciting this was. I got to go all the way down several flights of stairs to see the actual gears, and I was absolutely floored. My only disappointment was, the bridge didn't go up while I was there. I would've loved to actually see the gears turning while they raised and lowered the bridge. Each floor has displays of vintage photos, quotes from newspaper articles or diaries or letters, providing background information on the early days of Chicago. People don't realize that Fort Dearborn stood in this location, more than 200 years before. I found it all to be fascinating. The one downside to this museum is that it really is a working bridgehouse, and it was built long, long before builders considered providing accommodation for persons with disabilities. You have got to be able to get up and down several flights of narrow concrete stairs, if you want to see everything. There's no way around it. It is still a working bridgehouse, and it's not going to be rebuilt to meet the requirements of the Americans with Disabilities Act. You have to be an able-bodied person to see everything. In a weird way, this was a thrilling experience. Never did I imagine I'd get to see the interior of a bridgehouse. I'm not "connected," you see. I loved it. read more

It not a big fancy museum, it is a historical site. There is a Gallery on the history of the Chicago river and its bridges. It is pretty neat section to visit. I highly recommend one make a stop over if around the area. The staff is wonderful and knowledgeable. It also so reassuring to know Chicago young generation are quite down to earth and cultured. read more

Friends of the Chicago River runs this little-known gem. It's in the southwest corner of Michigan and Wacker, down on the riverwalk. It's not a big space, but as you go up the stairs the walls tell the story of the Chicago River over the years, and of Chicago itself. Two things to know about: 1) during the season, they have a "Fish Hotel" outside, which is basically a bunch of plants and things for fish to chill at in the river. You can stand over the river and see the little guys, it's kind of cool. 2) You can find out when bridge lifts take place and these are the best times to go. You can watch from the top of the bridgehouse (a neat spot to watch the boats go by, and to watch the people watching the boats), or you can go to the basement and watch the giant gears turn as they make the bridge go up. They sound like dinosaurs. read more

This is such a cool hidden gem! Located in the bridge house on the south side of the Chicago River, you can access this museum from the Riverwalk. I never would have found it, had it not been for a sandwich board near the very discreet entrance. Walk in and pay the $5 suggested donation - it's worth it! While the museum is not big, it has three winding floors of very cool history about the settlement of the Chicago area, and the integral role the river has played in the region's development. The mix of narrative, audio, copies of letters and illustrations kept me interested for sure. And then there's the inner workings of the bridge. Wow! You can go right into the belly of the thing and see exactly how it opens up for boat traffic. There is also information about all the different kinds of bridges in Chicago, why they were built, and how they changed the face of the city. I really felt like I got to know the city in just the half hour or so that I was there. But - it's so worth it! If you love architecture, environmental science, history, urban development - you'll love this little museum. read more

Excellent little vertical museum tucked into a bridge pillar! Easily overlooked if you don't know it's there. Terrific info on the logistics and history of the city's famed bridge system. Quirky layout, up and down steps of tower for more info and unique river views. Hidden gem in a city with many gems. read more

We had an hour to spare and were already on the riverwalk so we dropped by. This museum spans all the levels of the bridgehouse on Michigan Ave. It starts off explaining the mechanics of bridges and as you go up the levels it continues with the history of the River and its bridges and the City. My only tip? Don't eat beforehand. There is a lot of talk about poop. Maybe more than required? Museum: 4/5 Service: 3/5 Location: 4/5 read more

This tiny little museum was pretty darn interesting!! Yay! Here, you can see the mechanics of a bridge lift while it is happening (not sure of all of the exact times, but 9 something in the morning on Saturdays is a time when all the bridges lift). Throughout the museum is information about the Chicago River and its history. Very interesting stuff, some of which I knew, and some of which I was pleasantly surprised to learn! :) What is best about this little 5 story skinny museum is the VIEWS. Being from the Chicagoland Area, I've been to this area along the river and Michigan Ave. countless times...but I never saw it from this vantage point. And of course....when the bridge lifts...all the pretty sailboats are passing by...it's quite beautiful to watch and photograph. NOTE: The last reviewer was incorrect in saying this was a Mayor Daley pet project. Grassroots organization Friends of the Chicago River actually lease this spot for $1 dollar a year, and have revamped the place with heavy donation funding, and I believe it hasn't cost the city much at all. So, this is a good thing in my eyes!!! Definitely worth the $4 bucks! Go check it out! read more

This place is pretty awesome, and the bridge lift was really great! My friend and I made reservations to see the first bridge lift of the season. The City canceled the lift, and I got an extremely apologetic call from the McCormick Bridgehouse and Chicago River Museum - so apologetic I almost felt bad that he had to call me. We had no problem rescheduling for the following week. On the bridge lift day, we met Jim (the docent from the museum) at Lake Shore Drive and the river - apparently, if you take a cab, you should asked to be dropped off at the City impound lot rather than the intersection of Lower Wacker and LSD. Jim gave us a lot of background info, and we watched the Lake Shore Drive bridge go up for the three sailboats that were coming in for the winter. We headed west on the riverfront walking trail to the Columbus Drive bridge, and stood underneath it as it opened for the sailboats (I had no idea you could do that!). Our final stop was the McCormick Bridgehouse. Jim took us to the gear room at the base of the Bridgehouse and explained how bascule trunnion bridges work. Unfortunately there was some sort of problem with the bridge - on the City's end, not the Museum's. We waited for over hour for the bridge to be lifted, and we spent tht time looking around at all of the exhibits (photos, diagrams, and explanations) in the Bridgehouse. The bridge finally went up, and was well worth the wait. I really liked standing near the gears and watching a piece of Michigan Avenue end up in a hole. It wasn't too loud, which was very surprising. After the bridge went down, we watched a few more bridges go up for the sailboats further down the river on our own. Overall, I highly recommend the bridge lift tour coordinated by the McCormick Bridgehouse and Chicago River Museum for anyone who is visiting Chicago or just likes bridges and local history. read more

This museum is nice but pretty small. It is cool to see the views out of the upper windows. read more

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This is not a large museum by my standards, but I think it's a brilliant idea and highly recommended for anyone that is interested in bridges and how they work. I come from the San Francisco Bay Area, a land of bridges, but none of which turn, swing apart, or go upwards, so this was definitely a cool thing to see. We didn't get to see this on our trip, but you can actually go to the basement and watch the gears turn. The staff is friendly and informative, and the walls are covered with photos and historical information. At the top of the museum (it's about 5 floors but not a difficult climb), there are windows overlooking the river and the skyline. read more

Stumbled on this place after a boat architecture tour. What a great find and best four dollars I spent Chicago. Terrific use of space to tell the history of the river and tour a bridge house in the perfect location read more

Surprisingly rich source of history hidden within a secret corner of the Chicago River! I got the Groupon for the tour since I didn't know what was in there....an earlier Saturday morning tour was easy to accommodate and not too crowded. The museum spans the entire height of the southwest tower on the Michigan Ave bridge as well as taking you down to street level. Here you can learn about the rich and interesting history of the Chicago river, Chicago bridgehouses, and the types of bridges along the river. A walk west down the river and under the bridge is included. The docents were interesting and well informed. Some fascinating old photos and maps, including the horrid pollution of the river (even in current times)! A must for every Chicago resident! read more

Tons of great info on the history of the river throughout about 5 floors - if you like to read. there is not much hands on anything to do or see. It's all old photos and news paper clippings and written blurbs. I can only handle so much of that. I really went to get different photographic perspectives. There are several places to get a very unique view of the river and architecture on your way up. You start out just above river level and end up looking down on Michigan Ave. I will go back in the fall for the bridge tour. read more

Hidden gem adjacent/connected to the Michigan Ave. bridge (southeast corner). For $5 (it's an NPO so you can always donate more should you feel inclined) you get a 5-story tour of how the bridge(s) on the river operate. For those of you who are unfamiliar with Chicago, there is absolutely nothing cheaper than getting a $5 tour in the heart of downtown. read more

Worth the visit. Not going to blow your socks off.. but it is nice to see something unusual and specific to Chicago. It is also nice to be reminded that you are in the midwest.. and something about the nice nature of the tour... and the friendly person at the desk is very midwestern. Thank You for letting us experience this unique place. read more

This is an awesome museum filled with rich history behind Chicago and its waterways. Bring your camera, as there are nice views from the top of the tower, and the gears on the bottom floor are pretty neat too. I loved all the information and old newspaper articles from early Chicago. Definitely makes you have an appreciation for the engineers who helped construct the waterways. read more

I always wanted to explore one of the bridge houses along the river. I was walking by and saw the sign so I went down and checked it out. It's so cool. It's a hidden little gem right at Michigan and Wacker. It's has lots of historical photo's and really cool views from the different floors. It was a lot of fun to check out. My favorite part was the gear room!! I think they do tours in there when the bridges go up. read more