La Grange Lock and Dam, Navigation lock and embankment dam on Illinois River, Brown County, United States.
La Grange Lock and Dam is a navigation lock and embankment dam on the Illinois River in Brown County that moves vessels between different water levels. The structure stretches across the river and includes a lock chamber designed to safely guide boats through.
The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers built this facility between 1936 and 1939 to deepen shipping routes along the Illinois River. This project was part of a broader effort to modernize water transportation capabilities in the region.
The National Register of Historic Places recognized this engineering structure in 2004 for its role in the Illinois Waterway Navigation System.
Visitors can watch the system operate from the surrounding banks as boats pass through and water levels adjust. Good viewing spots exist along the roadside where you can see the locking operations in action.
The facility uses Chanoine wicket gates for water control, a system that differs from other river installations using Tainter gates. This specialized technology enabled more efficient regulation of water flow during vessel transit.
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