Product Description

To see what's up in Chicago, come down to the river. Float along the Main Branch for views of Lake Point Tower and Marina City, up the North Branch to the condo-converted Montgomery Ward Catalog House, then down the South Branch to take in the soaring Sears Tower. This book, a companion to the Chicago Architecture Foundation River Cruise, is your guide to the buildings that make downtown Chicago world famous for architecture and infrastructure.

During the past two hundred years, engineers and architects designed twin engineering marvels, the Chicago skyline and the Chicago River. Dredged, straightened, its direction reversed, the river flowed a varied course through the city's history, as Chicagoans built factories, civic structures, waterside homes and parks, and the world's tallest steel-and-glass monuments to big business.

The story of Chicago is the story of its river. A View from the River spotlights over fifty buildings, recounting an urban tale that continues to unfold.

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #203642 in Books
• Published on: 2008-06-08
• Original language: English
• Number of items: 1
• Binding: Paperback
• 96 pages

Review
As you cruise along, marvel at one of the city's greatest assets: its world-class architecture. -- TimeOut Chicago

The best and most beautiful way to get the feel of the city is to take the Chicago architecture Foundation's 90-minute boat tour where you glide past an array of dazzling skyscrapers. -- Conde Nast Traveler

From the Publisher
New edition, with new text, new photographs, and new spotting map.

About the Author
Jennifer Marjorie Bosch has researched and written on architecture, history, science, and nature. Her development of "The Marquette Building: A Quest for Height" helped refocus attention on a restored Chicago landmark. Bosch's other projects include the Bridgehouse and Chicago River Museum and "Great Train Story" at the Museum of Science and Industry.

Customer Reviews

Nice synopsis though not a river guide
This book is perfect for those who want a short and simple overview of the magnificent buildings along the Chicago River. Be aware though, that it's organization makes it not terribly useful as a guide on a river cruise or in my case, an easy way to label the photos I've taken along the way. I was hoping for more of a sequential guide that would present the architecture as seen from the tour boat. Instead, the author has organized it by architectural style - The Chicago School, Art Deco, Modern, Postmodern, etc.

As a result, the book "jumps" from place to place along the river. There is a map (with tiny print) in the back for reference however.

The pictures are wonderful, though many are aerial views that might make it hard to identify the building from what you've seen or photographed from water level.

And if I may offer one more peckish comment - if only the author had given more attention to those fantastic bridges along the way. I personally find them enchanting, and would love to see them documented.

That said, it's a great book and I'm glad I bought it. It provides just what I wanted in terms of describing the buildings and fitting each into the grander, bigger picture. I now have a much better understanding of the history, trends, and philosophy of Chicago architecture and architects as a result, and I know I will use it again for reference before my next river cruise.