The Chicago History Museum is full of fascinating artifacts, yet some of the city’s most controversial aren’t in the museum but hidden behind it. Lincoln Park is home to two little-known spots with supposed ties to the American Revolution.
The Putnam Chain
Passersby enjoying Lincoln Park hardly notice the bushes that surround the east terrace behind the Chicago History Museum. You certainly wouldn’t think to stand on a bench and look down into the shrubbery. Yet those in the know find a surprising discovery hidden in the bushes—a giant chain of iron links!
Known as the Putnam Chain, this artifact has some history of its own. It is said to be one of several chains used during the Revolutionary War by American soldiers who stretched them across the Hudson River to prevent the passage of British ships. It was named in honor of General Israel Putnam who served in the French and Indian War and the American Revolution.
This strategy was first used in 1777 Fort Montgomery when the Americans stopped the British at Fort Montgomery—before the British disembarked, moved the chain and sailed on. Another chain was more successful in 1778 at deterring British attacks at West Point. West Point still displays thirteen links from the Great Chain today.
The total number of links made is unknown, as their size ranged from 19 inches to 36.5 inches long. With each link weighing more than 100 pounds, the chain’s total weigh is around 80 tons.
“Militarily, the Great Chain proved that deterrence works because… it appeared strong enough with its supporting fortifications to dissuade the British from attacking it.” – Col. James M. Johnson, Marist College
So how did these links end up in Chicago? It belonged to Charles F. Gunther, a wealthy collector of historical relics who opened a museum in 1889. After his death in 1920, the Chicago Historical Society purchased much of his collection including important Civil War artifacts like the bed Lincoln died and table where General Lee signed his surrender. Chicago Historical Society curators believed the chain’s claim as a Revolutionary War artifact.
However, the Smithsonian owned another portion of this chain. In the 1960s, the Smithsonian determined that the chain links were constructed in the mid-nineteenth century. The Smithsonian “put its links into storage without comment.” With no mention of the chain on the Chicago History Museum’s website and the chain hidden outside in the bushes it would seem that they did the same. The true origin of the Putnam Chain remains a Chicago mystery.
A Remnant of the Great Chicago Fire
The Putnam Chain isn’t the only historic relic stashed in the bushes behind the history museum. Look nearby and you’ll find a mass of iron, stone, and brick. This hunk is a remnant from none other than the Great Chicago Fire. The pieces were part of Hall & Kimbark’s ironware house where their stored iron melted into the brick and stone building structure. Workers uncovered the relic in 1890 when they were laying the foundation for a new Masonic Temple. Gunther added the relic to his collection it was also purchased by the Chicago Historical Society. Still no word on how it ended up in the bushes.
The Kennison Grave
Believe it or not, there’s more than one questionable Revolutionary War reference in Lincoln Park. A boulder in the park near Wisconsin and Clark Streets marks the grave of David Kennison. Kennison claimed to be the last surviving member of the Boston tea Party. Incredibly, he was also a Revolutionary War soldier under George Washington, soldier at Fort Dearborn, the War of 1812, and the Battle of Bunker Hill.
As one of Chicago’s most distinguished citizens, the city paid for his funeral in City Cemetery (present-day Lincoln Park) and intended to build a monument in his honor. Fifty years later, Revolutionary War groups placed a commemorative boulder at his grave site still in Lincoln Park despite claims that the graves were moved out of City Cemetery. People who claimed to be at the funeral fifty years before indicated the grave’s location. Researcher Pamela Bannos believes that the boulder is one city-block north of Kennison’s final resting place.
It wasn’t until 1973 that a genealogist debunked Kennison’s legacy. According to the plaque on the boulder, Kennison died at the age of 115, 3 months and 17 days. As they say, don’t let the truth get in the way of a good story!
Jaffee History Trail
As much as I love the excitement of discovering historic artifacts hidden in the bushes, these relics may be getting a more prominent display soon. This summer, the Chicago History Museum is renovating the plaza and creating an interpretive history trail in the park behind the museum. The Richard M. and Shirley H. Jaffee History Trail will feature history, gardens, and sculpture. I’m excited to see whether these artifacts of weird Chicago history appear in the trail and how their stories are told.
While the Revolutionary War landmarks in Lincoln Park aren’t historically accurate, they are fun pieces of Chicago history to stumble on. They have a lot to say about how we discuss and interpret the past and how that affects the perceived value of historic objects. Here’s to keeping your eyes peeled for stories in unexpected places!
Want to discover other hidden gems in Chicago? Check out my book Secret Chicago!
Sources
- Bannos, Pamela. “Hidden Truths: David Kennison.” Hidden Truth, Northwestern University, 2021.
- Levine, David. “A 75-Ton Chain Once Stretched Across the Hudson River to Stop the British and Protect the Hudson Valley.” Hudson Valley Magazine, 10 Jan. 2018.
- District, Chicago Park. “Chicago Fire Relic.” Chicago Park District, 2021.
- District, Chicago Park. “Putnam Chain.” Chicago Park District, 2021.
- “Jaffee History Trail.” Chicago History Museum, 7 June 2021.
Chicago History Musuem
1601 N. Clark St.
Chicago, IL 60614
