Defense, Regeneration, The Pioneers, and The Discoverers - by James Earle Fraser and Henry Hering

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. This marker informs ...
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.


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



Below the sculptural bas relief is inscribed ...
"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"..


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.



Below the sculptural bas relief is inscribed ...
"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.."


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.



Below the sculptural bas relief is inscribed ...
"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."



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.



Below the sculptural bas relief is inscribed ...
"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."

For more on.. [click on the link]
# Sculptures and markers on Michigan Avenue bridge..
# Defense, Regeneration, The Pioneers, and The Discoverers..
# Plaque in honor of Louis Jolliet & Pere Jacques Marquette.
# Plaque in honor of La Salle & Henry De Tonti..
# Celebrating the bridge opening....
# The importance of Chicago River in early Chicago development..
# Granite squares commemorating Chicago Gateway Green committee efforts..
# Site of Fort Dearborn...
# Bust of Pointe DuSable.. click here..
# Site of McKinzie Mansion...