DOWNTOWN — A lot can happen in 10 years.
Take the case of the Chicago River and its surroundings over the last decade.
The McCormick Bridgehouse & Chicago River Museum is celebrating its 10th anniversary Friday with a bunch of activities, events and free food. The area surrounding the museum has transformed quite a bit in the last 10 years.
DNAinfo asked museum officials to send a photo from the first day it opened to the public, and we took a photo from nearly the exact spot to compare the two.
The biggest difference is the completion of Trump Tower, which was being built in 2006 and was finished in 2009. The "TRUMP" sign wasn't added until 2014.
Look closer and you'll also notice how the Chicago Riverwalk has been enhanced.
Senior Editor Justin Breen describes the ever changing Riverwalk.
In 2006, there was no foliage, but that's clearly different now. In 2009, the shoreline was extended 25 feet from Michigan Avenue to State Street along Wacker Drive, according to the Tribune, which noted that two barges sunk during the construction.
Now the Riverwalk is in the midst of a $100 million project in which it is being transformed with restaurants, retail space, boat docking and places to lounge.
How will the Chicago River and the Downtown area nearby look 10 years from now? We'll have to wait and see, but it's possible the river will be on its way to being swimmable.
The museum, whose address is 99 Chicago Riverwalk, was founded in 2006 by Friends of the Chicago River to show the river's history and its potential improvements.
For more information on the museum's anniversary party, click here.
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