Richard Lanyon

About the Author

Richard Lanyon is a distinguished historian and author whose works illuminate the pivotal engineering feats that shaped America's urban landscapes. With a background in civil engineering and a passion for the untold stories of infrastructure, Lanyon meticulously chronicles the ingenuity and perseverance behind transformative projects. His debut book, Building the Canal to Save Chicago, delves into the audacious 19th-century endeavor to reverse the Chicago River and avert disaster, blending rigorous research with vivid narrative to bring this engineering marvel to life. Lanyon's writing not only educates but also captivates, revealing how human ambition intersects with environmental challenges to forge the modern metropolis. A longtime resident of the Midwest, he continues to explore themes of innovation and resilience in his ongoing scholarship.