Drug Test/Screening Collector Training & Certification, Lyons, IL
For
Collection Sites, Medical Facilities, DER's, HR Managers, Safety Managers, Court Personnel, Probation Officers, TPA's
Accredited Drug Testing provides a comprehensive online/web-based Urine Drug Testing Collector Training and Certification course in Lyons, IL for persons required as part of their responsibilities to perform or supervise urine drug testing specimen collections. The collector training program may be completed with or without the required mock collection proficiency assessments. Upon completion of the training program, students will receive a certificate of successful completion of the training course. In Lyons, IL to be qualified/certified as a DOT urine drug test collector, you must satisfactorily complete both the training course and a minimum of 5 error free proficiency mock demonstrations.
The Drug Test Collector plays a critical role in the workplace drug screening process. Along with the employer, the testing facility and the Medical Review Officer (MRO), the collector is an essential part of a system developed to ensure drug-free workplaces for the sake of public safety.
As the collector, you are the only individual in the drug-testing process who has direct, face-to-face contact with the employee. You ensure the integrity of the urine specimen and collection process and begin the chain of custody that includes the laboratory; the MRO; the employer; and, possibly, the courts.
This training is a professional-level course that provides the knowledge and skills to qualify Drug Test Collectors to perform U.S. Department of Transportation-regulated drug tests and non-regulated tests. Course participants also have the option of becoming professionally certified after completion of this course. This designation confirms that the collector is committed to the highest standards in the drug and alcohol testing industry.
The Course
This professional-level course meets the regulatory standards of U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT) rule 49 CFR Part 40 and provides a solid foundation for a wide range of testing programs.
- Library of terms & resources
- Universal skills set
- Multiple industries
- Lessons
- DOT Qualification
- Public sector
- Short quizzes & final examination
- Professional Certification
- Private sector
- Mock collections
- Regulated by local, state and federal authorities
- Signature
How to become a DOT Qualified Urine Colletor?
To become qualified as a collector, you must be knowledgeable about Part 40 regulations, the current "DOT Urine Specimen Collection Procedures Guidelines," and DOT agency regulations applicable to the employers for whom you will perform collections, and you must keep current on any changes to these materials. You must also (1) successfully complete a qualification training program and (2) pass a monitored proficiency demonstration, as required by DOT regulations [See 49 CFR Part 40.33 (b-c), effective August 1, 2001]. Please note: there is no "grandfather" clause or waiver from this requirement. A collector's qualifications are not location/collection site specific, and their eligibility will follow them anywhere DOT Agency regulated urine specimens are collected. There is no requirement for qualified collectors to register or to be on any federally-maintained or federally-sponsored list, but they are required to maintain (for Federal inspection) documentation of successful completion of their training and proficiency demonstration requirements.
How to Take the Course
The Drug Test Collector Training involves multiple parts that need to be completed in a specific order to achieve certification.
- Before starting the training, the collector must:
- review 49 CFR Part 40 and be familiar with the regulatory language;
- review the DOT Urine Specimen Collection Guidelines;
- review "Instructions for Completing the Federal Drug Testing Custody and Control Form for Urine Specimen Collection"
- watch DOT's 10 Steps to Collection Site Security and Integrity video.
- and download the sample Custody and Control Form. This form guides the entire drug-collection process. Review the document and have it at hand through the entire course. (All required materials are also available in the Reference Library.) NOTE: The 2017 version of the CCF is no longer current. If you intend to use it, you must attach a Memorandum for Record (MFR).
- Take the course Pre-Test to show familiarity with the subject matter based on a review of the materials provided.
- Complete the lessons of the training along with the required short quizzes.
- Take the final exam. A score of at least 90 percent is required.
- When you pass the online portion of this training, continue to the Next Steps lesson for instructions on how to set up five mock collections with a live examiner. These must be scheduled within 30 days of course completion and are required for qualification and certification.
- Once the mock collections are completed without error, you will be qualified and can perform both federally regulated and non-regulated drug test collections.
- To be certified, qualified collectors are asked to sign an agreement promising to adhere to the standards set in the training. The course administrator will then issue a certification form documenting that the collector is both a USDOT Qualified and Professionally Certified Drug Testing Collector. Contact the course administrator for more information.
Additional Courses Available
- DOT Alcohol Screening Test Technician Training
- Saliva/Oral Fluid Training & Certification
- Certified Drug Test Collector Annual Exam
- DOT Breath Alcohol Technician Training
- Hair Specimen Collector Training & Certification
- DOT Reasonable Suspicion Training Course
- DER Training FMCSA
- DER Training FAA
- DER Training PHMSA
- DER Training FRA
- DER Training FTA
- DER Training USCG
- MRO Assistant Training
- New Business Start Up Overview
** Accredited Drug Testing's Urine Specimen Collector training course is developed in conjunction with the National Drug and Alcohol Screening Association.
Drug and Alcohol Testing Locations Lyons, IL
7222 W CERMAK RD 2.5 miles
NORTH RIVERSIDE, IL 60546
125 N LA GRANGE RD 2.7 miles
LA GRANGE, IL 60525
9532 EAGLE WAY 3.2 miles
CHICAGO, IL 60678
6500 W 65TH ST 3.2 miles
CHICAGO, IL 60638
6170 JOLIET RD 3.7 miles
COUNTRYSIDE, IL 60525
5601 W CERMAK RD 3.8 miles
CICERO, IL 60804
5101 WILLOW SPRINGS RD 3.8 miles
LA GRANGE, IL 60525
4940 S CICERO AVE 4.2 miles
CHICAGO, IL 60638
5015 W 65TH ST 4.5 miles
BEDFORD PARK, IL 60638
610 S Maple Ave, Ste 5800 4.5 miles
Oak Park, IL 60304
6555 WILLOW SPRINGS RD STE 6 4.6 miles
LA GRANGE HIGHLANDS, IL 60525
2615 HARRISON ST 4.7 miles
BELLWOOD, IL 60104
2450 WOLF RD STE I 4.8 miles
WESTCHESTER, IL 60154
413 S HARVEY AVE 5.1 miles
OAK PARK, IL 60302
5525 S PULASKI RD FL 3 5.1 miles
CHICAGO, IL 60629
1225 W LAKE ST STE 101 5.6 miles
MELROSE PARK, IL 60160
8755 S HARLEM AVE 5.7 miles
BRIDGEVIEW, IL 60455
537 N HARVEY AVE 6.0 miles
OAK PARK, IL 60302
40 S CLAY ST STE 100E 6.1 miles
HINSDALE, IL 60521
534 CHESTNUT ST, STE 230 6.3 miles
HINSDALE, IL 60521
Fitness Department, 6.3 miles
Melrose Park, IL 60101
7230 W NORTH AVE STE 106B 6.7 miles
ELMWOOD PARK, IL 60707
535 PLAINFIELD RD STE C 7.0 miles
WILLOWBROOK, IL 60527
155 E BRUSH HILL RD 7.0 miles
ELMHURST, IL 60126
5660 W 95TH ST 7.1 miles
OAK LAWN, IL 60453
REMIT ONLY: DEPT 77-6478 7.2 miles
CHICAGO, IL 60678
75 REMITTANCE DR STE 1660 7.2 miles
CHICAGO, IL 60675
1983 N MANNHEIM RD 7.5 miles
MELROSE PARK, IL 60160
ONSITE ONLY 7.5 miles
WILLOWBROOK, IL 60527
2333 N HARLEM AVE STE 100 7.6 miles
CHICAGO, IL 60707
3316 S ASHLAND AVE 8.0 miles
CHICAGO, IL 60608
6300 KINGERY HWY STE 404 8.0 miles
WILLOWBROOK, IL 60527
3145 S ASHLAND AVE STE 110 8.0 miles
CHICAGO, IL 60608
835 S WOLCOTT AVE STE E144 8.2 miles
CHICAGO, IL 60612
5709 S. Loomis Blvd 8.3 miles
Chicago, IL 60636
1200 S YORK RD Center for Health 8.6 miles
ELMHURST, IL 60126
1044 N FRANCISCO AVE 8.6 miles
CHICAGO, IL 60622
10137 GRAND AVE 8.6 miles
FRANKLIN PARK, IL 60131
7107 W BELMONT AVE 8.6 miles
CHICAGO, IL 60634
3317 W 95TH ST LOWR LEVEL STE 5 8.7 miles
EVERGREEN PARK, IL 60805
5533 W 109TH ST STE 103 8.8 miles
OAK LAWN, IL 60453
2361 Reliable Parkway 9.0 miles
Chicago, IL 60686
2393 Reliable Parkway 9.0 miles
Chicago, IL 60686
7421 S CASS AVE 9.0 miles
DARIEN, IL 60561
18W125 RODGERS CT 9.1 miles
DARIEN, IL 60561
10837 S Cicero Ave Ste 310, 9.1 miles
Oak Lawn, IL 60453
650 W 51ST ST 9.1 miles
CHICAGO, IL 60609
3101 N HARLEM AVE LOWER LEVEL 9.2 miles
CHICAGO, IL 60634
1431 N Western Ave Ste 137, 9.4 miles
Chicago, IL 60622
565 N YORK ST 9.4 miles
ELMHURST, IL 60126
1113 Fairview Ave, 9.5 miles
Westmont, IL 60559
7800 W College Dr, Room 1-W 9.5 miles
Palos Heights, IL 60463
1230 W LAKE ST 9.7 miles
CHICAGO, IL 60607
533 W North Ave, LL Suite 50 9.7 miles
Elmhurst, IL 60126
1520 N DAMEN AVE 9.8 miles
CHICAGO, IL 60622
321 W LAKE ST STE C 9.9 miles
ELMHURST, IL 60126
311 N ABERDEEN ST STE 100B 9.9 miles
CHICAGO, IL 60607
12255 S 80TH AVE 10.0 miles
PALOS HEIGHTS, IL 60463
600 W ADAMS ST 10.1 miles
CHICAGO, IL 60661
614 W MONROE ST 10.1 miles
CHICAGO, IL 60661
2340 S Highland Ave Ste 330, 10.2 miles
Lombard, IL 60148
1030 W CHICAGO AVE 10.2 miles
CHICAGO, IL 60642
2907 S WABASH AVE STE 100 10.2 miles
CHICAGO, IL 60616
3201 S WALLACE ST 10.2 miles
CHICAGO, IL 60616
2600 S Michigan Ave 10.3 miles
CHICAGO, IL 60616
4200 MANNHEIM RD 10.4 miles
SCHILLER PARK, IL 60176
4126 N Milwaukee Ave, 10.4 miles
Chicago, IL 60641
300 W ADAMS ST STE 835 10.5 miles
CHICAGO, IL 60606
4211 N CICERO AVE 10.6 miles
CHICAGO, IL 60641
811 S STATE ST STE B 10.6 miles
CHICAGO, IL 60605
36 W RANDOLPH ST STE 705 10.7 miles
CHICAGO, IL 60601
4830 N Cumberland Ave Ste 9 10.7 miles
Norridge, IL 60706
2929 S ELLIS AVE 10.7 miles
CHICAGO, IL 60616
4900 N CUMBERLAND AVE 10.8 miles
NORRIDGE, IL 60706
4757 W MONTROSE AVE 10.8 miles
CHICAGO, IL 60641
1460 N Halsted St Ste 201, 10.9 miles
Chicago, IL 60642
2400 N. Ashland Ave Suite 100 10.9 miles
Chicago, IL 60614
1734 W 105TH ST 10.9 miles
CHICAGO, IL 60643
55 E WASHINGTON ST STE 2500 11.0 miles
CHICAGO, IL 60602
111 N Wabash Ave Ste 1514, 11.0 miles
Chicago, IL 60602
219 W CHICAGO AVE 11.1 miles
CHICAGO, IL 60654
10242 S VINCENNES AVE 11.1 miles
CHICAGO, IL 60643
5841 S MARYLAND AVE 11.1 miles
CHICAGO, IL 60637
639 W NORTH AVE 11.2 miles
VILLA PARK, IL 60181
130 S MAIN ST 1ST FL IMMEDIATE CARE OCC HEALTH 11.2 miles
LOMBARD, IL 60148
300 E RANDOLPH ST CL404 11.2 miles
CHICAGO, IL 60601
676 N SAINT CLAIR ST STE 900 11.4 miles
CHICAGO, IL 60611
233 E ERIE ST STE 602 11.6 miles
CHICAGO, IL 60611
129 W SAINT CHARLES RD 11.6 miles
LOMBARD, IL 60148
4800 W 129TH ST 11.8 miles
ALSIP, IL 60803
7742 W HIGGINS RD 11.8 miles
CHICAGO, IL 60631
7530 WOODWARD AVE 11.8 miles
WOODRIDGE, IL 60517
7530 Woodward Ave. Suite G, 11.9 miles
Woodridge, IL 60517
4742 CAL SAG RD 11.9 miles
CRESTWOOD, IL 60445
1240 IL ROUTE 83 11.9 miles
BENSENVILLE, IL 60106
3000 N. Halsted, Suite 604 12.2 miles
Chicago, IL 60657
2868 N BROADWAY ST 12.2 miles
CHICAGO, IL 60657
O'Hare International Airport Terminal 2 12.3 miles
Chicago, IL 60666
2800 N Sheridan Rd Ste G1, 12.4 miles
Chicago, IL 60657
875 ROOSEVELT RD STE 200 12.4 miles
GLEN ELLYN, IL 60137
6191 N CANFIELD AVE 12.4 miles
CHICAGO, IL 60631
303 W LAKE ST 12.5 miles
ADDISON, IL 60101
8751 S Greenwood Ave Ste 106, 12.7 miles
Chicago, IL 60619
4801 W Peterson Ave Ste 205, 12.7 miles
Chicago, IL 60646
1974 E 73RD ST 12.9 miles
CHICAGO, IL 60649
14475 John Humphrey Dr Ste 100, 13.0 miles
Orland Park, IL 60462
2310 York St Ste 4A 13.0 miles
Blue Island, IL 60406
onsite for POH only 13.0 miles
ORLAND PARK, IL 60462
12647 S JUSTINE ST 13.2 miles
CALUMET PARK, IL 60827
900 E 103RD ST 13.3 miles
CHICAGO, IL 60628
5961 N LINCOLN AVE UNIT 2 13.5 miles
CHICAGO, IL 60659
12942 S CARPENTER ST 13.8 miles
CALUMET PARK, IL 60827
2300 W PETERSON AVE 14.0 miles
CHICAGO, IL 60659
701 WINTHROP AVE 14.3 miles
GLENDALE HEIGHTS, IL 60139
1339 W LAKE ST 14.3 miles
ADDISON, IL 60101
9570 W 159TH ST STE A 14.7 miles
ORLAND PARK, IL 60467
6140 N BROADWAY ST 14.9 miles
CHICAGO, IL 60660
8125 RIVER DR STE 102 14.9 miles
MORTON GROVE, IL 60053
303 E Army Trail Rd, Ste 111 15.0 miles
Bloomingdale, IL 60108
2200 LANDMEIER RD STE 2200 15.2 miles
ELK GROVE VILLAGE, IL 60007
211 E ARMY TRAIL RD 15.2 miles
BLOOMINGDALE, IL 60108
273 E ARMY TRAIL RD 15.2 miles
BLOOMINGDALE, IL 60108
16325 HARLEM AVE STE 110 15.2 miles
TINLEY PARK, IL 60477
130 N WEBER RD STE 108 15.4 miles
BOLINGBROOK, IL 60440
391 S BOLINGBROOK DR 15.5 miles
BOLINGBROOK, IL 60440
484 W Boughton Rd, 15.6 miles
Bolingbrook, IL 60440
1830 JARVIS AVE 15.6 miles
ELK GROVE VILLAGE, IL 60007
10737 W. 165TH STREET 15.7 miles
ORLAND PARK, IL 60467
1600 Dempster St Ste 218, 15.7 miles
Park Ridge, IL 60068
480 QUADRANGLE DR 15.8 miles
BOLINGBROOK, IL 60440
6449 DEMPSTER ST 15.8 miles
MORTON GROVE, IL 60053
1190 S NAPER BLVD 15.9 miles
NAPERVILLE, IL 60540
1220 HOBSON RD STE 220 16.0 miles
NAPERVILLE, IL 60540
1020 E OGDEN AVE STE 208 16.1 miles
NAPERVILLE, IL 60563
17148 HARLEM AVE 16.2 miles
TINLEY PARK, IL 60477
14330 S WILL COOK RD 16.4 miles
HOMER GLEN, IL 60491
126 BIESTERFIELD RD 16.4 miles
ELK GROVE VILLAGE, IL 60007
15600 HONORE AVE 16.4 miles
HARVEY, IL 60426
800 Austin St, East Tower Ste 457 16.5 miles
Evanston, IL 60202
16501 KEDZIE AVE 16.7 miles
MARKHAM, IL 60428
8630 W GOLF RD 16.7 miles
NILES, IL 60714
6701 159TH ST OCC HEALTH 16.7 miles
TINLEY PARK, IL 60477
18210 LA GRANGE RD STE 110 16.9 miles
TINLEY PARK, IL 60487
1 KRAFT CT 17.0 miles
GLENVIEW, IL 60025
113 W LAKE ST 17.0 miles
BLOOMINGDALE, IL 60108
100 N RIVER RD 17.0 miles
DES PLAINES, IL 60016
4709 W. Golf, Suite 806 17.1 miles
Skokie, IL 60076
801 S WASHINGTON ST 17.2 miles
NAPERVILLE, IL 60540
1060 S ELMHURST RD 17.3 miles
MOUNT PROSPECT, IL 60056
640 S Washington St Ste 140, 17.3 miles
Naperville, IL 60540
245 S GARY AVE STE 101 17.9 miles
BLOOMINGDALE, IL 60108
471 W Army Trail Rd Ste 101, 17.9 miles
Bloomingdale, IL 60108
16221 W 159th St 18.0 miles
Lockport, IL 60441
2380 S ELMHURST RD 18.1 miles
MOUNT PROSPECT, IL 60056
1214 Brownwood Ste B 18.5 miles
Mount Prospect, IL 60056
19070 EVERETT BLVD, UNIT 111 18.7 miles
MOKENA, IL 60448
1280 WINDHAM PKWY 18.9 miles
ROMEOVILLE, IL 60446
636 RAYMOND DR STE 102 18.9 miles
NAPERVILLE, IL 60563
1375 E SCHAUMBURG RD 18.9 miles
SCHAUMBURG, IL 60194
16246 PRINCE DR 18.9 miles
SOUTH HOLLAND, IL 60473
250 E MAPLE ST 19.2 miles
NEW LENOX, IL 60451
3040 SOUTHCREEK LANE 19.4 miles
ARLINGTON HEIGHTS, IL 60005
PO BOX 63 19.4 miles
MOKENA, IL 60448
3831 S HOHMAN AVE 19.4 miles
HAMMOND, IN 46327
519 S ROSELLE RD 19.5 miles
SCHAUMBURG, IL 60193
605 W CENTRAL RD STE 101 19.6 miles
ARLINGTON HEIGHTS, IL 60005
726 S WEBER RD 19.6 miles
BOLINGBROOK, IL 60490
2150 PFINGSTEN RD STE 3000 19.6 miles
GLENVIEW, IL 60026
2150 PFINGSTEN RD 19.6 miles
GLENVIEW, IL 60026
2591 Compass Rd Ste 110, 19.6 miles
Glenview, IL 60026
2601 COMPASS RD, STE 130 19.7 miles
GLENVIEW NAS, IL 60026
800 W CENTRAL RD 19.7 miles
ARLINGTON HEIGHTS, IL 60005
1100 W. Central Rd., Suite 402 19.8 miles
Arlington Heights, IL 60005
18665 DIXIE HWY 19.8 miles
HOMEWOOD, IL 60430
19150 South Kedzie Avenue, Suite 101 19.8 miles
Flossmoor, IL 60422
1000 S HAMILTON ST 19.8 miles
LOCKPORT, IL 60441
4020 S CALUMET AVE 19.9 miles
HAMMOND, IN 46320
1971 Gowdy Road 19.9 miles
Naperville, IL 60563
808 E Woodfield Rd Ste 400, 20.2 miles
Schaumburg, IL 60173
1595 VALENCIA CT 20.3 miles
CALUMET CITY, IL 60409
19550 GOVERNORS HWY 20.3 miles
FLOSSMOOR, IL 60422
2272 W 95TH STREET, STE 100 20.5 miles
NAPERVILLE, IL 60564
5500 Hohman Ave Ste 1D 20.6 miles
Hammond, IN 46320
1515 E LAKE ST STE 100 20.7 miles
HANOVER PARK, IL 60133
121 SOUTH WILKE RD, #405 20.9 miles
ARLINGTON HEIGHTS, IL 60005
813 SIBLEY ST 21.1 miles
HAMMOND, IN 46320
17665 Torrence Ave, 21.3 miles
Lansing, IL 60438
3360 LACROSSE LN STE 110 21.3 miles
NAPERVILLE, IL 60564
361 W GOLF RD 21.4 miles
SCHAUMBURG, IL 60195
3060 W SALT CREEK LN STE 110 21.9 miles
ARLINGTON HEIGHTS, IL 60005
6624 MONROE AVE 21.9 miles
HAMMOND, IN 46324
621 E LINCOLN HWY 21.9 miles
NEW LENOX, IL 60451
3052 WEBER DR 22.0 miles
AURORA, IL 60502
2741 RIDGE RD 22.1 miles
LANSING, IL 60438
2741 RIDGE RD FL 2 22.1 miles
LANSING, IL 60438
1010 165TH ST 22.1 miles
HAMMOND, IN 46324
4100 HEALTHWAY DR OCCUPATIONAL HEALTH SERVICEES 22.1 miles
AURORA, IL 60504
6423 COLUMBIA AVE UNIT A 22.2 miles
HAMMOND, IN 46320
21035 S LA GRANGE RD 22.3 miles
FRANKFORT, IL 60423
902 W DUNDEE RD RIDGE PLAZA 22.3 miles
ARLINGTON HEIGHTS, IL 60004
1545 HICKS RD 22.4 miles
ROLLING MEADOWS, IL 60008
4949 EUCLID AVE 22.6 miles
PALATINE, IL 60067
4321 FIR ST STE 313 22.7 miles
EAST CHICAGO, IN 46312
24600 W 127TH ST 22.8 miles
PLAINFIELD, IL 60585
605 ACADEMY DR 23.0 miles
NORTHBROOK, IL 60062
141 E. IRVING PARK ROAD 23.0 miles
STREAMWOOD, IL 60107
544A W DUNDEE RD 23.1 miles
WHEELING, IL 60090
7905 CALUMET AVE 23.1 miles
MUNSTER, IN 46321
1423 CHICAGO RD 23.1 miles
CHICAGO HEIGHTS, IL 60411
50 S NORTHWEST HWY 23.3 miles
PALATINE, IL 60074
30 E 15TH ST STE 100 23.3 miles
CHICAGO HEIGHTS, IL 60411
306 ERA DR 23.3 miles
NORTHBROOK, IL 60062
24600 W 127th St Ste 310, Building B 23.4 miles
Plainfield, IL 60585
8135 S Calumet Ave 23.4 miles
Munster, IN 46321
16101 WEBER RD 23.5 miles
CREST HILL, IL 60403
1555 BARRINGTON RD 23.6 miles
HOFFMAN ESTATES, IL 60169
2000 OGDEN AVE 23.6 miles
AURORA, IL 60504
2334A W HIGGINS RD 23.6 miles
HOFFMAN ESTATES, IL 60195
13246 S ROUTE 59 STE 106 23.6 miles
PLAINFIELD, IL 60585
2088 Ogden Ave, Ste 240 23.8 miles
Aurora, IL 60504
2853 KIRK RD 23.8 miles
AURORA, IL 60502
2450 169TH ST 23.8 miles
HAMMOND, IN 46323
2500 W Higgins Rd Ste 460, 23.9 miles
Hoffman Estates, IL 60169
371 West Northwest Highway 23.9 miles
Palatine, IL 60067
1955 RANDI DR 23.9 miles
AURORA, IL 60504
2635 Church Rd Ste 105 24.0 miles
Aurora, IL 60502
8840 CALUMET AVE, STE 204 24.1 miles
MUNSTER, IN 46321
337 W. Northwest Highway, 24.5 miles
Palatine, IL 60067
15 S MCHENRY RD 24.7 miles
BUFFALO GROVE, IL 60089
2306 ESSINGTON RD 24.7 miles
JOLIET, IL 60435
800 N LARKIN AVE 24.8 miles
JOLIET, IL 60435
770 E Dundee Rd 24.9 miles
Palatine, IL 60074
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Local Area Info: Lyons, Illinois
Although first settled in 1888, Lyons remained as a large unincorporated area of Cook County for several years, before becoming a census-designated place in 2009. The community is greatly steeped in earlier historical roots. In 1673 French Explorer Louis Joliet and Jesuit missionary Father Pierre Marquette left Green Bay, Wisconsin, by canoe in search of a western passage to the Pacific. As they traveled into the Spanish controlled area of Louisiana, they realized that the mighty Mississippi River drained into the already well known Gulf of Mexico. With winter approaching, they headed north as quickly as possible. To save time, the Potawatomi Indians who were with them encouraged changing their route to the Illinois River. The short cut led to the Des Plaines River and caused the French travelers to discover “Le Portage.” This half-mile wide area of land connecting the Chicago River and the Des Plaines River, over which they could carry their canoes and supplies, was to become the discovery for which they would both become famous. Later known as the Chicago Portage, this small area became the “Gateway to the West” and was used by thousands of early settlers and traders traveling both east and west. The discovery of “Le Portage” was part of the impetus that led to Chicago becoming a center for the world trade.
Louis Joliet conceived the idea of constructing a canal to connect the two waterways. This idea was to become a reality 200 years later with the opening of the Illinois and Michigan Canal. In time, the part of the I&M Canal that connected the south branch of the Chicago River with the Des Plaines River was replaced with the Chicago Sanitary and Ship Canal, which was completed in 1900. Today, a statue stands in Lyons at the Chicago Portage National Historic Sight just north of Interstate 55 along Harlem Avenue, commemorating this historic National Heritage Corridor which stretches southwest through La Salle, Illinois.
From the early 1960s through the late 1980s, Lyons was known for its notorious links to organized crime. Mayor William Smith, for whom a park was named, was being subjected to a federal corruption investigation when he died from cancer in 1989. During the 1970s and 1980s, the small town was littered with notorious strip clubs and bars along its Ogden Avenue corridor. It was often referred to an area of east Ogden Avenue known as "Driftland", due to the amount of drifters in the area. However, the village changed dramatically in the 1990s, and several of the strip clubs and the majority of the bars no longer exist.