Skip to content
  • Subscribe
  • Facebook
  • Twitter
  • Youtube
  • Instagram
  • Email
  • Home
  • News
  • Opinion
  • Entertainment
  • Features
  • Subscribe FREE to Ray Hanania’s Columns
  • Advertise
Suburban Chicagoland

Suburban Chicagoland

Original News, Features & Opinion

  • About
    • About
    • Advertise
    • Our Writers
      • Ray Hanania
      • Bill Lipinski
      • Aaron Hanania
      • Steve Metsch
      • Steve Neuhaus
    • Terms of Service
    • Privacy Policy
    • Reach Out
    • Submit a Press Release
  • Sections
    • Events
    • Opinion
    • News
    • Features
    • Seniors
    • Comic Strip
  • Library
    • “MIdnight Flight” Online Book
      • Midnight Flight Book Overview
      • Midnight Flight Introduction
      • Midnight Flight Chapter 1
      • Midnight Flight Chapter 2
      • Midnight Flight Chapter 3
      • Midnight Flight Chapter 4
      • Midnight Flight Chapter 5
      • Midnight Flight Chapter 6
      • Midnight Flight Chapter 7
      • Midnight Flight Chapter 8
      • Midnight Flight Chapter 9
      • Midnight Flight Chapter 10
      • Midnight Flight Chapter 11
      • Midnight Flight Chapter 12
      • Midnight Flight Chapter 13
    • Villages, Cities & Towns
    • Federal Office Holders
    • County Officials
    • Legislators
  • Seniors
  • Subscribe to Ray’s Columns
  • Comment
  • Podcast
    • Ray Hanania on Politics Podcast
  • Hanania on Tiktok
  • Toggle search form
  • Jeffery M. Leving fights for your rights
    Court orders ex to provide transportation so Dad can see his daughter Civil Rights
  • Brandon Johnson leads a protest demanding to defund the Police. Phot courtesy of the Vallas for Mayor Campaign
    Johnson Refuses to Answer Whether He Would Pursue Stricter Penalties for Repeat Gun Offenders At WGN Debate  Chicago
  • Orland Fire Protection District extinguish fire in apartment building at 144th and Ravinia Sunday Jan. 30, 2022
    One fatality in Orland Hills Home fire Cook County
  • Orland Park Mayor Keith Pekau continues to lie and slander people Blogger
  • Writing my very first news story that ran in the Messenger Press Baby Boomers
  • Illinois State Senator Michael Hastings. Photo courtesy of the Illinois State Senate
    Senator Michael Hastings supports bill to protect consumers from pesky auto-renewal charges Features
  • Major League Rugby 2023 Championship to take place at SeatGeek Stadium July 8
    Major League Rugby 2023 Championship to take place at SeatGeek Stadium July 8 Entertainment
  • Paul Vallas candidate for Chicago Mayor 2023. Photo courtesy of the Paul Vallas website
    Paul Vallas calls out Johnson’s lies walking back calls to defund and undermine police Chicago
  • Jeffery M. Leving fights for your rights
    Psychological support for divorcing dads topic of CLE at Leving firm Chicago
  • Ronette McCarthy, a candidate for Mayor of Palos Park, addresses the Palos Park Village Board on the issue of expanding Wu's House parking into land adjacent to the huge restaurant on the east.
    Whoa is Wu’s House in Palos Park Blogger
  • Pekau campaign signs violate village ordinances News
  • Rotary Club of Orland Park Logo
    Orland Park Rotary offering scholarships to graduating seniors Education
  • Carl Sandburg High School, Orland Park, School District 230
    Carl Sandburg band invited to London’s New Year’s Day Parade 2024;  Education
  • Higher Education veteran Tracy Sullivan announces candidacy for Moraine Valley Board News
  • Chicago ALderman Raymond Lopez announces his candidacy for Mayor of Chicago on Wednesday April 6, 2022. Photo courtesy of Ray Lopez announcement video
    Lopez and O’Shea endorse Vallas in Chicago mayor race Chicago

Portage to the future

Posted on October 16, 2018October 16, 2018 By Steve Metsch No Comments on Portage to the future
SHARE THIS STORY
            
 
  

Loading

Portage to the future

Groups seek to promote historic Lyons site

By Steve Metsch

Driving on busy Harlem Avenue, just north of the Stevenson Expressway, you may have noticed a statue if you glanced west.

It’s a towering statue of a native American, Louis Joliet, Father Marquette and a canoe, recalling their visit in 1673.

It’s significant, representing a key historic element for Chicago and our nation. Yet it probably doesn’t get the recognition it deserves, supporters say.

That’s why a large group of diverse groups met Oct. 3 at the Summit Public Library to discuss ways to generate more interested in the Chicago Portage National Historic Site in Lyons.

It’s the actual site where Marquette and Joliet, with help from the local native Americans, portaged their canoes from the Des Plaines River about seven miles east to the Chicago River.

This statue, erected in 1989, shows Father Marquette and Louis Joliet with a Native American at the actual site where they would portage their canoes from the Des Plaines River east to the Chicago River. Several groups are looking at ways to improve the National Historic Site, one of two in Illinois. Photo by Steve Metsch.

 

The site, explained John Langer of Friends of the Portage, looms lare in history because it connected east and west.

The Des Plaines feeds into the Illinois River, then the Mississippi River and to the Gulf of Mexico. The Chicago River leads to Lake Michigan and the Great Lakes and all points east.

Representatives of the Illinois State Archeological Survey, Daughters of the American Revolution, Friends of the Chicago Portage, National Park Service, Canal Corridor Association, Lyons, the MWRD and the Forest Preserve District of Cook County attended, along with local residents.

They gathered in four small groups, kicking around ideas of how the site can be improved and better promoted.

Some may be surprised to learn it is one of two sites in Illinois on the National Register of Historic Places.

“The other is Abraham Lincoln’s home. Everybody is aware of that. You talk about the Chicago Portage and you get a blank look. The site is 98 acres and includes Portage Woods and Ottawa Woods,” said John Langer, of Friends of the Chicago Portage.

River access, more parking, improved trails, and building an interpretive center ranked high on the list of suggested changes.

“People aren’t aware it’s a historic site. It’s also a great birding site,” Langer said. “Because of this portage, that’s why Chicago is where it is today.”

La Grange resident Paul Lubenkov said “if they clean up the trail and had some historical markers, that could bring a lot of people into the area. It doesn’t seem to me that it would be that expensive.”

Lyons Village Trustee Dan Hilker thinks an improved site could generate more interest, adding, “if more people visit, more become aware of the community, Lyons, Summit, Stickney.”

Hilker noted that turning into the site from northbound Harlem Avenue could be a challenge and should be addressed: “I was on a PACE bus tour. Maybe they’d set this up as a stop?”

“Even though this looks little, there’s potential here,” Hilker said. “I think the community would be supportive.”

Being located so near the Stevenson Expressway could result in 500,000 visitors a year, Langer said.

Hopefully, the meeting will result in ideas that “raise the visibility,” Langer said.

“Volunteers are great,” Langer added, “but you need a staff to market and to connect with museums and schools and park districts.”

One group said it liked “the primitive nature of the site, how it probably was at the time of the portage.” Another called it “a living museum.”

The four groups later shared ideas.

Some of the other ideas were parking across Harlem Avenue from the site, increased access from the Des Plaines River, adding public art, bringing more elementary school students there, and more informative signage.

Kindy Kruller, a senior planner for the forest preserve district, said ideas generated in the meeting will be reviewed and narrowed down to possible options to discuss at a future meeting.

Summit Mayor Segio Rodriguez said he’d like to find a way to connect his village with the site using a bike path.

Friends of the Chicago Portage to offer tours of the portage site at 10 a.m. on the first Saturday of each month. The last tour offered this year is on Nov. 3. Tours resume next spring.

“I’d encourage anyone who hasn’t done it yet to take advantage of this. I was aware of the area but didn’t have comprehension of all the detailed information. They do a super job conducting the tour,” Lubenkov said.

Desplaines Valley News

  • Author
  • Recent Posts
Steve Metsch
Steve Metsch
Steve Metsch is an award winning veteran reporter who previously worked for the Daily Southtown Newspapers, Chicago Tribune and Chicago Sun-Times. Metsch is a writer and editor at the Southwest News Newspaper group based in suburban Chicago, and a freelance writer a health magazine, the Suburban Life, the Naperville Sun, and other organizations.
Email Steve Metsch at sm4610@sbcglobal.net
Steve Metsch
Latest posts by Steve Metsch (see all)
  • James Koc rejoins Lyons ZBA - November 26, 2022
  • “It’s time,” says McCook top cop Svetich - November 26, 2022
  • No town too small, Pritzker visits Southwest suburbs - November 4, 2022
  • Tweet

SHARE THIS STORY
            
 
  
 
 
 
           
News, Suburban Chicagoland Tags:1673, Chicago Portage National Historic Site, Dan Hilker, Father Marquette, Harlem Avenue, Louis Joliet, Lyons, Stevenson Expressway

Post navigation

Previous Post: Better Dental Plan Rests in Hands of Veterans
Next Post: High school senior says writing book will improve student grades

Related Posts

  • Bridgeview Mayor Steve Landek visits the new Food Pantry in Bridgeview. Photo courtesy of the Des Plaines Valley News
    Bridgeview Food Pantry helps many Features
  • Chicago Businessman Willie Wilson
    Former Mayoral Candidate, Business Leader Dr. Willie Wilson Endorses Vallas for Mayor Chicago
  • Sounded like ‘a door slamming’ News
  • Author, comedian and columnist Ray Hanania performs standup comedy in Dearborn in 2004
    Palestinian American standup comedy American style Books & Films
  • Muslim, Christian & Jew discuss Jerusalem Nov. 12 News
  • Amos Alonzo Stagg High School Palos Heights. Courtesy of Stagg High school
    Stagg High school Pupil Personnel Services Department Earns “Those Who Excel” Recognition Education

More Related Articles

Electrical power lines. Photo courtesy of Ray Hanania Storm shuts power for 85,000 Northern Illinois homes News
PHOTO CAPTION: 200426-N-ZE328-1089 ATLANTIC OCEAN (April 26, 2020) Culinary Specialist 3rd Class Jeriel Butler, from Chicago, stirs cheese sauce in the aft galley aboard the Nimitz-class aircraft carrier USS Harry S. Truman (CVN 75) in the Atlantic Ocean April 26, 2020. The Harry S. Truman Carrier Strike Group (HSTCSG) remains at sea in the Atlantic as a certified carrier strike group force ready for tasking in order to protect the crew from the risks posed by COVID-19, following their successful deployment to the U.S. 5th and 6th Fleet areas of operation. Keeping HSTCSG at sea in U.S. 2nd Fleet, in the sustainment phase of OFRP, allows the ship to maintain a high level of readiness during the global COVID-19 pandemic. (U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist Seaman Kelsey Trinh) Chicago resident on Navy assignment Briefs
Column on Pritzker misspending $17 million on fake face masks, and his poor leaders published in the Southwest News Newspaper Group May 1, 2020. Pritzker acts recklessly, jeopardizes first responders Blogger
Congressman Sean Casten Rep. Casten Votes to Establish Process for Confiscating Russian Oligarchs’ Assets, Funding Ukraine Reconstruction Federal
Chicago Wolves lose to Toronto Marlies in overtime at AllState Arena Nov. 14, 2021 Despite strong play Chicago Wolves lose in roller-coaster game with Rockford IceHogs Chicago
state Rep. La Shawn K. Ford, D-Chicago Ford Introduces Legislation to Save Lives in the Opioid Overdose Epidemic Crime

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

You must be logged in to post a comment.

Login with your Social ID
  • OPINION COLUMNS
  • Orland Park Mayor Keith Pekau continues to lie and slander people
    March 21, 2023
  • Writing my very first news story that ran in the Messenger Press
    March 19, 2023
  • Ronette McCarthy, a candidate for Mayor of Palos Park, addresses the Palos Park Village Board on the issue of expanding Wu's House parking into land adjacent to the huge restaurant on the east.
    Whoa is Wu’s House in Palos Park
    March 14, 2023
  • Foxx policies punish police rather than the criminals
    March 8, 2023
  • Pekau silences accountability to expand his political power
    February 27, 2023
  • Terrorist Russian tyrant Vladimir Putin who is guilty of massacring civilians in his war against Ukraine. Photo credit Wikipedia
    America should stand with Ukraine and set aside internal politics
    February 24, 2023

Subscribe

  • Ray-Hanania-Newsletter-300-wide-Banner.jpg

Trending

  • Ronette McCarthy, a candidate for Mayor of Palos Park, addresses the Palos Park Village Board on the issue of expanding Wu's House parking into land adjacent to the huge restaurant on the east. Whoa is Wu’s House... Whoa is Wu's House in Palos Park Residents in Palos Park thought they had t... posted on March 14, 2023
  • Orland Park Mayor Keith P... Orland Park Mayor Keith Pekau continues to lie and slander people By Ray Ha... posted on March 21, 2023
  • Brandon Johnson leads a protest demanding to defund the Police. Phot courtesy of the Vallas for Mayor Campaign Johnson Refuses to Answer... Johnson Refuses to Answer Whether He Would Pursue Stricter Penalties for Re... posted on March 22, 2023
  • Karie Friling the former Director of Development Services and former Asst. Village Manager for Orland Park, Illinois, discusses with host Ray Hanania, the proposed referendum introduced and pushed by Mayor keith Pekau to eliminate the professional Village Manager and Managerial Form of Government. Former Orland Park Asst V... Former Orland Park Asst Village Manager analyzes misguided referendum to el... posted on February 23, 2023
  • Pekau campaign signs viol... Pekau campaign signs violate village ordinances Pekau and his endorsed cand... posted on March 13, 2023
  • NEWS
  • Jeffery M. Leving fights for your rights
    Court orders ex to provide transportation so Dad can see his daughter
    March 23, 2023
  • Brandon Johnson leads a protest demanding to defund the Police. Phot courtesy of the Vallas for Mayor Campaign
    Johnson Refuses to Answer Whether He Would Pursue Stricter Penalties for Repeat Gun Offenders At WGN Debate 
    March 22, 2023
  • Orland Fire Protection District extinguish fire in apartment building at 144th and Ravinia Sunday Jan. 30, 2022
    One fatality in Orland Hills Home fire
    March 22, 2023
  • Illinois State Senator Michael Hastings. Photo courtesy of the Illinois State Senate
    Senator Michael Hastings supports bill to protect consumers from pesky auto-renewal charges
    March 18, 2023
  • Major League Rugby 2023 Championship to take place at SeatGeek Stadium July 8
    Major League Rugby 2023 Championship to take place at SeatGeek Stadium July 8
    March 17, 2023
  • Paul Vallas candidate for Chicago Mayor 2023. Photo courtesy of the Paul Vallas website
    Paul Vallas calls out Johnson’s lies walking back calls to defund and undermine police
    March 15, 2023
  • The-Kings-Pawn-Book-300-x-300.png

The Political Pundit

Political Pundit Aug. 24, 2021. Taliban thanks president for boxes of MAGA hats
  • WORD PRESS REVIEWS
  • MyCloud by Western Digital, a hard drive that doesn't last. Don't purchase Western Digital.
    Western Digital tubes its loyal customers for profit
    October 17, 2021
  • Macho Themes website front page. Don't buy their themes. They don't work
    Difficulties with Macho Themes for WordPress
    August 21, 2021
  • TECHNOLOGY REVIEWS
  • Illinois State Senator Michael Hastings. Photo courtesy of the Illinois State Senate
    Senator Michael Hastings supports bill to protect consumers from pesky auto-renewal charges
    March 18, 2023
  • Wreaths Across America Radio logo
    Wreaths Across America Radio Announces New Strategic Partnerships with Veteran Radio Programs
    February 6, 2023
  • Dr. Helen Edwards Fermilab particle physicist
    Foster, Durbin, Duckworth introduce resolution to name Fermilab Research Center after renowned physicist Dr. Helen Edwards
    February 3, 2023

Follow Ray Hanania at
Gab.com, MeWe.com
IDobbinate.com,
Twitter, Facebook

Creative Commons License
All works on this website is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License. Do not edit original work. Give credit to the original source.

First Installment of the Property Tax

What We’re Reading

Arab News Newspaper Leading English Language Publication in the GulfArab News Newspaper

Ray Hanania on Politics
SW News Newspaper Group

  • SPORTS
  • Major League Rugby 2023 Championship to take place at SeatGeek Stadium July 8
    Major League Rugby 2023 Championship to take place at SeatGeek Stadium July 8
    March 17, 2023
  • Chicago Wolves 2022-2023 season
    Chicago Wolves top Stars for second win in a row
    October 25, 2022
  • Stagg Marching Band Pit Crew as efficient as a NASCAR pit stop! The team that does a lot of the work to help the Stagg High school band perform works behind the scenes like a NASCAR pit stop. The students are profiled in this feature
    Stagg Marching Band Pit Crew as efficient as a NASCAR pit stop!
    August 31, 2022
  • Soccer. Photo by Md Mahdi on Unsplash
    International soccer returns to SeatGeek Stadium
    August 7, 2022
  • NEWS RELEASES
  • Jeffery M. Leving fights for your rights
    Psychological support for divorcing dads topic of CLE at Leving firm
    March 14, 2023
  • Tony Award Winner Robert Falls returns to Goodman Theatre to direct his adaptation of "The Cherry Orchard" Photo courtesy Goodman Theatre
    Tony Award Winner Robert Falls returns to Goodman Theatre to direct his adaptation of “The Cherry Orchard”
    March 6, 2023
  • Popular Ziyad Brand Green Za'ater. Photo courtesy of Ziyad Brothers
    Ziyad Brothers reports that the appeal of Mediterranean foods continues to rise among consumers
    February 16, 2023
  • Jeffery M. Leving fights for your rights
    No-contact order protects child from reported abuse
    February 16, 2023
  • Author Patrick Girondi
    Prominent producer to write screen adaptation of story on the fight against Thalassemia
    February 8, 2023
John Kass Columns

Order the book PoweR PR; Ethnic Activists Guide to Strategic Communications

  • BUSINESS NEWS
  • Ronette McCarthy, a candidate for Mayor of Palos Park, addresses the Palos Park Village Board on the issue of expanding Wu's House parking into land adjacent to the huge restaurant on the east.
    Whoa is Wu’s House in Palos Park
    March 14, 2023
  • Popular Ziyad Brand Green Za'ater. Photo courtesy of Ziyad Brothers
    Ziyad Brothers reports that the appeal of Mediterranean foods continues to rise among consumers
    February 16, 2023
  • Cook County Commissioner Frank Aguilar
    Cook County Announces Call for Transportation and Community Grant Program Applications
    January 23, 2023
  • money $20 dollar bill, dollars, cash
    Buckner unveils plan to help businesses and strengthen job
    January 19, 2023

YOUTUBE VIDEOS

Click this link to watch or use the widget below:

Click here to view the video on YouTube or use the widget below.
Email Ray Hanania for more information about performing at your event at rghanania@gmail.com.

Copyright © 2022 Suburban Chicagoland & Urban Strategies Group

Powered by PressBook Premium theme