Bourbon Spring Historic Site: Riverside's Liquid Legacy

Bourbon Spring Historic Site, located in Riverside, Illinois, commemorates a natural spring that has a unique story tied to the early days of Cook County. The spring's name originates from an event in 1834. Following the election of Jean Baptiste Beaubien as the first colonel of the Cook County Militia, the newly formed militia celebrated by mixing a punch made with bourbon in a nearby barrel, which they then placed in the spring to keep it cool. From that day forward, the spring became known as Bourbon Spring.Before Riverside was established in 1869, the area held strategic importance. In 1832, during the Black Hawk War, General Winfield Scott assembled his troops near the spring, taking advantage of its water source. A tavern, established in 1827 by the Laughton brothers, was also nearby, making the area a popular stopping point for travelers. The spring even played host to Daniel Webster in 1837 when a Chicago delegation met him there.Today, the actual spring is covered by a concrete cistern, and a bronze plaque affixed to it tells the story of the spring's history. The site is located near the intersection of Barrypoint and Bloomingbank Roads, in the northeast corner of Swan Pond Park. While a portion of the monument has been damaged by vandals over the years, it still stands as a reminder of the area's vibrant past.