Olbrich Park / Michael B. Olbrich
Olbrich Park
This park was formerly known as Lake Front Park and remains one of Madison's largest lakefront parks with sixteen acres of land. In 1922, Michael B. Olbrich formed the Madison Parks Foundation to raise money necessary to complete the new park and to acquire shoreline between it and the Yahara River Parkway.
By 1928, Olbrich had achieved the goals of acquiring the funding for this parkland and turned his attention to the acquisition of the first portions of the University of Wisconsin Arboretum on the shore of Lake Wingra.
In 1929 when Michael Olbrich died unexpectedly, the park was renamed Olbrich Park to honor and recognize the remarkable legacy he left to Madison.
Michael B. Olbrich
Michael Balthazar Olbrich moved to Wisconsin from McHenry County, Illinois in 1889 to attend the University of Wisconsin at the young age of 17. He was a great debater and graduated from law school in 1905. He soon opened his own successful law firm and was a UW Regent.
Olbrich was deeply influenced by the example of another Madison attorney, John M. Olin. Mr. Olin was a longtime president of the nationally known Madison Park and Pleasure Drive Association, the private organization that created Madison's outstanding park system. In Olin, Olbrich found both inspiration and a perfect model
this page online
Erected by Oscar Rennebohm Foundation and the Madison Parks Foundation.
Topics. This historical marker is listed in this topic list: Parks & Recreational Areas.
Location. 43° 5.291′ N, 89° 19.836′ W. Marker is in Madison, Wisconsin, in Dane County. Marker can be reached from the intersection of Atwood Avenue and Walter Street. The marker is near the entrance to The Biergarten at Olbrich Park. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 3527 Atwood Avenue, Madison WI 53714, United States of America. Touch for directions.
Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within walking distance of this marker. Third Lake Passage (approx. ¼ mile away); Starkweather's Harried History (approx. 0.3 miles away); Olbrich Park (approx. 0.3 miles away); Olbrich's Thai Pavilion and Gardens (approx. 0.3 miles away); John M. Olin (approx. 0.4 miles away); Garver Feed & Supply Company (approx. half a mile away); The Monona Mound (approx. half a mile away); Bear and Lynx Effigy Mounds (approx. half a mile away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Madison.
Also see . . . Wikipedia entry on Michael B. Olbrich. (Submitted on January 3, 2020.)
Credits. This page was last revised on January 3, 2020. It was originally submitted on January 2, 2020, by Devon Polzar of Port Washington, Wisconsin. This page has been viewed 417 times since then and 16 times this year. Photos: 1, 2, 3, 4. submitted on January 2, 2020, by Devon Polzar of Port Washington, Wisconsin. • Mark Hilton was the editor who published this page.
