The Tradition of Chicago River Green Dyeing
The Chicago River undergoes a vibrant transformation, turning green in anticipation of St. Patrick’s Day festivities on March 16, 2024, in Chicago.
Erin Hooley/AP
The Chicago River is dyed green ahead of St. Patrick’s Day celebrations on March 16, 2024, in Chicago. – Erin Hooley/AP
Back in 1962, Chicago city workers introduced 100 pounds of dye into the river that flows through downtown Chicago. This initiative resulted in the river sporting an emerald green hue for an entire week, marking the inception of an annual custom.
The dyeing of the Chicago River has become synonymous with St. Patrick’s Day revelries in the United States. But what is the origin of this unique tradition?
Initially, the green dye served as part of the city’s endeavor to revamp the river’s waterfront zones, which had long served as a dumping ground for Chicago’s waste. This pollution issue was so severe that Upton Sinclair referenced one of the river’s tributaries, Bubbly Creek, in his renowned novel, The Jungle.
Bubbly Creek earned its name from the methane gas bubbles that would regularly emerge due to discarded waste from a nearby large slaughterhouse.
As the city expanded, efforts to cleanse the river intensified, leading to the establishment of waste treatment facilities and even a canal that permanently altered the river’s flow, introducing clean water from Lake Michigan into the river’s mouth.
Upon assuming office as the mayor of Chicago in 1955, Richard J. Daley prioritized the development of the riverfront. He tasked city workers with pinpointing the source of sewage by utilizing the green dye to aid in the identification process.
The Evolution of the Tradition
Initially proposing to dye part of Lake Michigan green in honor of St. Patrick’s Day, Daley was convinced by his associate Stephen M. Bailey, the business manager of the Chicago Plumbers Union, to opt for the more manageable Chicago River instead. This decision marked the birth of a tradition.
The original oil-based dye has since been replaced by a powder, ironically orange in color, with its formula shrouded in secrecy. Margaret Frisbie, executive director of Friends of the Chicago River, highlighted the lack of clarity regarding the dye’s composition and its potential harmlessness.
In the past, the city experimented with various methods to disperse the powder, including using fire extinguishers, which inadvertently covered iconic buildings like the Wrigley Building and over 100 cars due to the city’s windy nature.
Presently, the orange powder is distributed by two motorboats, with one vessel releasing the powder and the other stirring the water, resulting in the rapid transformation of the river into a vivid green spectacle.
Despite assurances of the dye’s harmlessness, concerns linger among advocacy groups like Friends of the Chicago River, who fear that unauthorized dye usage in other river sections may be encouraged by this practice.
The annual dyeing of the Chicago River has sparked imitations in other U.S. cities like San Antonio, Tampa, and Indianapolis, despite objections from environmental organizations. The tradition continues to draw thousands of spectators each year, celebrating this unique spectacle.
Kayakers enjoy the green-hued Chicago River post-dyeing, setting the stage for the St. Patrick’s Day parade on March 15, 2014.
Paul Beaty/AP
Kayakers float on the Chicago River after it was dyed green ahead of the St. Patrick’s Day parade on March 15, 2014. – Paul Beaty/AP
Witnessing the Chicago River transform into a sea of green has become a cherished tradition, symbolizing the spirit of St. Patrick’s Day in the heart of the city.
