There have been numerous significant dates in Chicago’s history, ranging from the end of long-standing sporting droughts to monumental expositions that have played a crucial role in the development of the city. Among these historically significant dates, one has recently garnered attention for an unexpected and peculiar reason.
If you’re a seasoned local, you may well be aware of the anniversary of the infamous bridge feces incident. During this time, the Dave Matthews Band tour bus accidentally dumped 800 pounds of waste onto an architectural river tour that was passing under the Kinzie Street Bridge.
To this day, Chicagoans have endless questions about why and how it all went down, but to ensure the day lives in infamy, a dedicated plaque was installed to honor it, which took place more than 20 years ago on Tuesday, August 8, 2004.
The Riot Fest Historical Society, whose legitimacy as a historical society is questionable, was behind the commemorative sign that appeared on the Kinzie Street Bridge.
The dedicated plaque reads:
On the afternoon of Aug 8. 2004. At this very location, the Dave Matthews band tour bus emptied the septic tank over the Chicago River, drenching passengers on a boat tour with 800 pounds of human poop. No one died that day. But many wish they had.
For those wanting to know why it happened, The Chicago Tribune reported in 2005 that the bus driver admitted to emptying the septic tanks going over the bridge by accident thus unintentionally covering 100 sightseers riding an open-deck tourist boat below.
Why was it dumped? How was it dumped? Why was there so much waste held on the bus? Your guess is as good as ours.