The Chicago Portage archive is available for download as a single .zip file from here. The archive includes copies of The Chicago Portage Ledger, photographs of the site, and the video "Connected Worlds: The Story of the Chicago Portage.
Furthermore, this December, we are launching a new platform for our unique digital collections.
Please take a moment to preview it and let us know what you think!

 

2017 Lecture Series

2017 Lecture Series
 
Us Versus Them
 
The theme of the 2017 Friends of the Chicago Portage Lecture Series "Us Versus Them" will explore the history, orgins and outcomes of conflict in the history of Chicago. Unlike previous lectures, presenters in this series will highlight three short stories of conflict and then facilitate an open audience discussion of various aspects of the stories.
 
All presentations are at the Burr Ridge Park District Community Center, 15W400 Harvester Drive in Burr Ridge, IL.
 
All presentations will begin at 1pm and will end before 3pm. Reservations for individuals are not required. Groups should RSVP by calling Jeff at 312-771-6855.
 
All lectures are free and open to the public. Donations and sponsorships to support this series are gratefully accepted.
 
2017 DATES, TOPICS AND PRESENTERS
Jan. 28, 2017 - "Indians Versus Indians" by Jack MacRae
Feb. 25, -   "Indians Versus Europeans" by Jack MacRae
Mar. 25, - "Chicagoans Versus Indians" by Gary Mechanic
Apr. 29, - "Chicagoans Versus The World" by Gary Mechanic
 
 
Saturday, Jan. 28, 2017 at 1pm
"Indians Versus Indians" Presented by Jack MacRae
 
Potawatomie historian, master storyteller and retired Naturalist Jack MacRae explores some of the earliest conflicts in the history of the Chicago region. Native Americans formed alliances with friends and fought wars with enemies long before Europeans stepped foot on this continent. Jack presents some examples of Indian on Indian conflict and then leads an open audience discussion.
 
Jack MacRae was born at an early age in the small coal mining community of Barrington, Illinois. Jack has had a 35-year long career interpreting the natural and cultural history of the Chicago region.
 
Presented at the Burr Ridge Park District Community Center, 15W400 Harvester Drive in Burr Ridge, IL.
 
 
Saturday, Feb. 25, 2017 at 1pm
"Indians Versus Europeans" Presented by Jack MacRae
 
From the first contacts to protests at the Standing Rock Reservation today, the span of American history is marked by conflict between Native Americans, Europeans, and Americans. Jack MacRae points to some examples and explores some of the underlying forces in these conflicts and then leads an open audience discussion.
 
Presented at the Burr Ridge Park District Community Center, 15W400 Harvester Drive in Burr Ridge, IL.

 
Saturday, Mar. 25, 2017 at 1pm
"Chicagoans Versus Indians" Presented by Gary Mechanic
 
The development of Chicago began with cooperation between local tribes and the European explorers, missionaries and traders who established a mission, fort and trading center here. But when Americans moved in, Chicago got ambition and it's been one kind of conflict after another, from the battle of Fort Dearborn, to expelling all non-whites in 1835.
 
 
Veteran Portage tour guide and lecturer Gary Mechanic presents three short stories about the conflicts between Chicago and its native neighbors, between Chicago and some of it's residents, and Chicago and its next door neighbors followed by an open audience discussion.
 
Presented at the Burr Ridge Park District Community Center, 15W400 Harvester Drive in Burr Ridge, IL.

 
Saturday, April 30, 2016 at 1pm"Chicagoans Versus The World" Presented by Gary Mechanic
 
As if Chicago didn't have enough conflicts in its struggle to build a city in a swamp, immigrants to Chicago brought ancient conflicts from their homelands and fought each other as they built the I&M Canal. And ancient conflicts between any city and its agricultural base arose anew here on the edge of the prairie before and after the creation of the Board of Trade. As the town became a giant city conflicts between development and preserving nature led to the creation of Forest Preserve and Park Districts. Cook County created the first Forest Preserve District in the world, but only after an decades long political fight. 
 
Gary Mechanic takes a look at conflict when "Us" IS "Them" followed by an open audience discussion.
 
Presented at the Burr Ridge Park District Community Center, 15W400 Harvester Drive in Burr Ridge, IL.
 

 

us versus them hat