Public Art in Chicago: Defense, Regeneration, The Pioneers, and The Discoverers

Defence - by Henry Hering / Southwest Tower

Defense, Regeneration, The Pioneers, and The Discoverers

- by James Earle Fraser and Henry Hering

1928 / Carved limestone

Location: Michigan Avenue Bridge

Chicago’s first settlers lived along the banks of the Chicago River where the Michigan Avenue Bridge now stands. The Michigan Avenue bridge was originally conceived as a part of Daniel Burnham's 1909 Plan of Chicago. The double-decker double-leaf trunnion bascule bridge was designed by architect Edward H. Bennet and engineers Thomas D. Pihlseldt and Hugh Young, and opened in 1920. The bridge provided an impressive gateway to North Michigan Avenue and contributed to it's development as one of city's premier throughfares. It was designated a Chicago Landmark in 1991.

Each bridge tower is adorned with a bas relief sculpture commemorating important events in Chicago history. The Northwest and Southeast towers house equipment to operate the bridge. The McCormick Bridgehouse and Chicago River Museum is now located within the Southwest tower.

Southwest Tower: Defence - By Henry Hering

Southeast Tower: Regeneration - By Henry Hering

Northwest Tower: Pioneers - By James Earle Fraser

Northeast Tower: Discoverers - By James Earle Fraser

Both of the south pylons are executed by Henry Hering and erected by the B.F. Ferguson Monument Fund. Both of the north pylons are executed James Earle Fraser and are gift of William Wrigley Jr.

Defence - by Hery Hering / Southwest Tower

SOUTHWEST TOWER

Defense - by Henry Hering

Unveiled: 1928

Defence portrays the Fort Dearborn Massacre of August 15, 1812, during the war of 1812. Over 50 people were killed by Potawatomi warriors allied with British as they evacuated Fort Dearborn and marched towards Fort Wayne, Indiana. The battle occuried at approximately 18th street and Paririe Avenue.

Defence / Southwest Tower

Defense

Fort Dearborn stood almost on this spot. After an heroic defense in eighteen hundred and twelve, the garrison together with women and children was forced to evacuate the fort. Led forth by Captain Wells, they were brutally massacred by the Indians. They will be cherished as martyrs in our early history.

Erected by trustees of the B.F. Ferguson Monument Fund, 1928.

Regeneration - by Henry Hering / Southeast Tower

SOUTHEAST TOWER

Regeneration - by Henry Hering

Unveiled: 1928

Regeneration commemorated the Great Chicago Fire of 1871. It portrays Chicagoans building the city upon the ashes of the fire.

Regeneration / Southeast Tower

Regeneration

The Great Chicago Fire in October eighteen hundred and seventy-one devastated the city. From its ashes the people of Chicago caused a new and greater city to rise imbued with that indomitable spirit and energy by which they have ever been guided.

Erected by trustees of the B.F. Ferguson Monument Fund, 1928.

Pioneers - by James E. Fraser / Northwest Tower

NORTHWEST TOWER

Pioneers - by James E Fraser

Unveiled: 1928

The pioneers dramatize Chicago's earliest non-native settlers, John Baptiste Pointe DuSable and John Kinzie, who established fur trading posts near the mouth of Chicago River.

The Pioneers / Northwest Tower

The Pioneers

John Kinzie, fur trader, settled near this spot in the early years of the nineteenth century. One of a band of courageous pioneers - who with their lives at stake - struggled through the wilderness, breaking soil for the seeds of a future civilization.
Presented to the city by William Wrigley Jr., 1928.

Discoverers - by James E. Fraser / Northeast Tower

NORTHEAST TOWER

Discoverers - by James E Fraser

Unveiled: 1928

The discoverers commemorates four European explorers who passed through the Chicago area in the late 1600's. Louis Joliet and Father Jacques Marquette were the first non-native people known to explore the map of Mississippi River system. The traveled down the Chicago River in 1674 on their return to the Great Lakes from the Mississippi Rene Robert Cavelier, Sieur De LaSalle and Henri De Tonti explored the entire Mississippi River basin between 1679 and 1682.

The Discoverers / Northeast Tower

The Discoverers

Jolliet, Father Marquette, La Salle, and Tonti will live in American history as fearless explorers who made their way through the Great Lakes and across this watershed to the Mississippi in the late seventeenth century and typify the spirit of brave adventure which has always been firmly planted in the character of the middle west.

Presented to the city by William Wrigley Jr., 1928.