The Fairy Tales of Hans Christian Andersen

Photographed by Sean Flynn

1. The Fairy Tales of Hans Christian Andersen Marker

Inscription. Did you know Hans Christian Andersen is credited with writing the first ever original fairy tale? Before 1835, all fairy tales were part of folk legend, meaning they had been handed down generation to generation in the oral tradition. Authors like the Brothers Grimm and Charles Perrault compiled fairy tales from interviews with people and then published them. But Hans Christian Andersen wrote Little Ida's Flowers in 1835 using just his imagination to craft a tale about flowers that attend a ball every night. This fairy tale, and all other original fairy tales written after it, are called "literary fairy tales," meaning they can be regarded as literature and not a retelling of a folk legend.

Hans Christian Andersen went on to publish over 150 fairy tales in his lifetime. His works have been translated into over 100 languages around the globe, making him one of the world's most widely-read authors. Check the list below of his most popular fairy tales to see if any of your favorites were written by Hans Christian Andersen.

Little Ida's Flowers (1835)
The Princess and the Pea (1835)
Thumbelina (1835)
The Little Mermaid

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(1836)
The Emporer's New Clothes (1837)
The Brave Tin Soldier (1838)
The Storks (1838)
The Wild Swans (1838)
The Ugly Duckling (1844)
The Fir Tree (1845)
The Red Shoes (1845)
The Snow Queen (1845)
The Darning Needle (1846)
The Little Match Girl (1846)
The Happy Family (1848)
The Old House (1848)

Topics. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Arts, Letters, Music • Parks & Recreational Areas. A significant historical year for this entry is 1835.

Location. Marker has been permanently removed. It was located near 41° 54.055′ N, 87° 46.734′ W. Marker was in Oak Park, Illinois, in Cook County. It was on Hayes Street 0.1 miles Division Street, on the right when traveling north. This is the furthest left of three markers for Hans Christian Andersen located along the sidewalk next to the playground in Andersen Park. Touch for map. Marker was at or near this postal address: 824 Hayes Street, Oak Park IL 60302, United States of America.

We have been informed that this marker is no longer there and will not be replaced. This page is an archival view of what was.

Regionally, this marker was in Greater Chicago.

Andersen Park playground image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Sean Flynn, August 7, 2023

2. Andersen Park playground

The two markers about Andersen's literary works are out of the picture to the left, in front of the fence to the playground.

It was also in the American Midwest

and on the Great Lakes.

Globally, it was in North America,

the Western Hemisphere,

the Western World,

and the Anglosphere.

Historically, it found itself in what was once the Viceroyalty of New France,

the territory of the Mississippian Culture,

and the Northwest Territory.

Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within walking distance of this location: Origins of the Literary Fairy Tale (here, next to this marker); a different marker also named Fairy Tales of Hans Christian Andersen (a few steps from this marker); Gold Star Men of the World War (within shouting distance of this marker); The Life of Hans Christian Andersen (within shouting distance of this marker); Edgar Rice Burroughs House (approx. 0.4 miles away); Taylor Park (approx. 0.4 miles away); Henry A. Taylor (approx. 0.4 miles away); Continental Divide (approx. 0.4 miles away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Oak Park.

Other markers no longer nearby. The Fairy Tales of Hans Christian Andersen (was a few steps from this marker but has been permanently removed); The Life and Times of Hans Christian Andersen

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(was within shouting distance of this marker but has been permanently removed).

More about this marker. This marker and two others nearby were removed during a 2025-26 renovation of Andersen Park and replaced by three signs about Hans Christian Andersen with new wording and styling.

Related markers. Click here for a list of markers that are related to this marker.

Additional keywords. hans christian andersen fairy tales park

Credits. This page was last revised on May 27, 2026. It was originally submitted on August 22, 2023, by Sean P. Flynn of Oak Park, Illinois. This page has been viewed 247 times since then and 32 times this year. Photos: 1, 2. submitted on August 22, 2023, by Sean P. Flynn of Oak Park, Illinois. • Andrew Ruppenstein was the editor who published this page.