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The Harrison-Dever Water Intake Crib, also known as Two-Mile Crib, is just visible from Navy Pier. It is the water's first stop on its journey from Lake Michigan to the faucets of millions of Chicago residents and businesses. This crib was completed in 1935, but the city has relied on structures like this for safe drinking water for around 150 years. Today, Chicago has four water intake cribs that together deliver roughly a billion gallons of water a day for millions of thirsty people in Chicago and some neighboring communities.

Closer to shore is another building that helped the Windy City become what it is today: the Chicago Harbor Lighthouse (pictured here). This lighthouse has guided water traffic for over a century. And its predecessors did the same for more than 50 years before. Together, they helped the Chicago Harbor become the most important in the region and turned the city into one of the world's busiest ports.
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