Amazing Photo Of Massive Barge On Chicago River
By John Dodge
CHICAGO (CBS) -- In 1953, the biggest vessel to travel the Mississippi River and Illinois Waterway managed to wind its way downtown on the Chicago River.
Even now, one has to gasp and wonder how the hell that happened.
In the above photo, the Marine Angel executes the tight turn past the Wrigley Building and narrowly misses the side of the river where the Trump Tower now stands.
In fact, there are a few copies of this historic print for sale!
This steel hull behemoth was nearly 500 feet long and 70 feet wide.
Net tonnage: 8151
Gross tonnage: 11,758.
Here is the Marine Angel navigating under the Western Avenue Bridge, courtesy of Bowling Green University.
Click on picture to enlarge the image.
