Lake View East in Chicago in Cook County, Illinois — The American Midwest (Great Lakes)
Lincoln Park
Photographed By Andrew Ruppenstein, December 7, 2021
1. Lincoln Park Marker
Inscription.
Lincoln Park was created in response to concerns in the 1850's about the public health threat posed by a lakeside cemetery. An unused section of the burial ground was reserved as Lake Park in 186o, and renamed shortly after President Abraham Lincoln's assassination in 1865. An early donation of several mute swans led to the creation of Lincoln Park Zoo. In 1869, the park was expanded into the remaining cemetery, and Lake Shore Drive was developed as the boulevard connection with downtown. Severe winter storms of 1885 resulted in the construction of a breakwater system in Lake Michigan which included the first of what became many landfill projects extending Lincoln Park's boundaries., Throughout the park's history, its improvements have included renowned works of art, landscape design, and architecture. In the 1890's, the Victorian interest in horticulture resulted in the construction of the Lincoln Park Conservatory and surrounding gardens. After the turn of the century, increasing recreational needs led to additional ball fields, playgrounds, beaches, harbors, and a golf course. A final expansion in the 1950s brought Lincoln Park to its current size of 1208 acres.
Lincoln Park was created in response to concerns in the
1850's about the public health threat posed by a lakeside
cemetery. An unused section of the burial ground was
reserved as Lake Park in 186o, and renamed shortly after
President Abraham Lincoln's assassination in 1865. An
early donation of several mute swans led to the creation of
Lincoln Park Zoo. In 1869, the park was expanded into the
remaining cemetery, and Lake Shore Drive was developed
as the boulevard connection with downtown. Severe winter
storms of 1885 resulted in the construction of a breakwater
system in Lake Michigan which
included the first of what became
many landfill projects extending
Lincoln Park's boundaries.
Throughout the park's history, its
improvements have included
renowned works of art, landscape
design, and architecture. In the
1890's, the Victorian interest
in horticulture resulted in the construction of the Lincoln Park
Conservatory and surrounding
gardens. After the turn of the century, increasing recreational needs
led to additional ball fields, playgrounds, beaches, harbors, and a
golf course. A final expansion in
the 1950s brought Lincoln Park to
its current size of 1208 acres.
Photographed By Andrew Ruppenstein, December 7, 2021
2. Lincoln Park Marker - wide view, with the Elks Memorial Building in the background
Photographed By Empire Art Co., Chicago, circa 1909
3. Scene in Lincoln Park on a Sunday Afternoon, Chicago - postcard
The back of the postcard contains the additional information: "Lincoln Park is on the North Side of Chicago. The park proper is 317 acres in extent. To this 235 acres is being added by filling in Lake Michigan north of Diversey Boulevard. This extension will contain a 70 acre yacht harbor and will have bathing facilities, etc."
Photographed By Gerson Bros., Chicago, circa 1925
4. Lincoln Park Drive showing Grant Monument, Chicago, Ill.
Credits. This page was last revised on January 30, 2023. It was originally submitted on December 29, 2021, by Andrew Ruppenstein of Lamorinda, California. This page has been viewed 130 times since then and 21 times this year. Photos:1, 2, 3, 4. submitted on December 29, 2021, by Andrew Ruppenstein of Lamorinda, California.