Jackson Park in Chicago in Cook County, Illinois — The American Midwest (Great Lakes)
Garden of the Phoenix
Photographed by Javon Garcia, September 30, 2024
1. Garden of the Phoenix Marker
The Garden of the Phoenix symbolizes the mutual respect and friendship that Japan and the United States initiated more than 120 years ago. In 1893, here on Jackson Park's Wooded Island, the Japanese Government built the Ho-oh-den (Phoenix Temple) and its pavilion for the World's Columbian Exposition. The Ho-oh-den introduced Japan's artistic heritage to Americans and remained as a gift to Chicago after the Fair. The original pavilion had only a small garde; however, in the mid-1930s, the newly-formed Chicago Park District restored the pavilion and added a more extensive Japanese Garden. Funded by the Works Progress Administration, the project incorporated Japanese elements including a small tea house from Chicago's 1933-34 World's Fair, A Century of Progress, in Burhnam Park. After this site was repeatedly vandalized during WWII, fire destroyed the Phoenix Temple in 1946, less than a year after the war ended in the Pacific. Although Japan and America entered into a peace treaty in 1952, the garden deteriorated and received only minor improvements until the early 1980s, when the Chicago Park District received a federal grant for its restoration. Since then, the Garden of the Phoenix has been revitalized several times, including a 1992 project that celebrated Chicago's Sister City relationship with Osaka, Japan. Today, Chicago Park District works with non-profit organizations Project 120 Chicago and The Garden of the Phoenix Foundation to enhance, maintain, interpret and prmote the legacy of this historic garden and Jackson Park.
Erected by Chicago Park District.
Topics and series. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Architecture • Horticulture & Forestry • Parks & Recreational Areas • Peace. In addition, it is included in the Works Progress Administration (WPA) projects
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Location. This marker has been replaced by another marker nearby. It was located near 41° 47.207′ N, 87° 35′ W. Marker was in Chicago, Illinois, in Cook County. It was in Jackson Park. It could be reached from Midway Plaisance east of South Stony Island Avenue, on the right when traveling east. Marker is beside the main north-south walking path, 80 yards south of the Nancy C. Hays Bridge, at the north end of the Garden of the Phoenix (Osaka Garden), within Jackson Park. Touch for map. Marker was at or near this postal address: 6300 S Cornell Ave, Chicago IL 60637, United States of America. Touch for directions.
Regionally, this marker was on Chicago’s South Side. It was also in the American Midwest. Globally, it was in North America, on the Great Lakes, in the Western Hemisphere, in the Western World, and in 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: Osaka Garden (here, next to this marker); 35th Anniversary of Chicago-Osaka Sister City Relationship (here, next to this marker); a different marker also named Osaka Garden (a few steps from this marker); Yoko Ono (within shouting distance of this marker); Legacy Tree Preservation Project, March, 2026 (about 300 feet away, measured in a direct line); Jackson Park Improvements (about 500 feet away); The First Automobile Race in America (about 500 feet away); a different marker also named Jackson Park Improvements (about 500 feet away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Chicago.
More about this marker. This marker was not spotted during an October 2026 visit to the site and appears to have been replaced by a new marker titled "Osaka Garden." That marker shares much of the same text as that one, with a handful of tweaks to the text.
Additional keywords. landscape architecture
Credits. This page was last revised on October 20, 2026. It was originally submitted on September 30, 2024, by Javon Garcia of Chicago, Illinois. This page has been viewed 272 times since then and 61 times this year. Photo 1. submitted on September 30, 2024, by Javon Garcia of Chicago, Illinois. • Devry Becker Jones was the editor who published this page.
Editor’s want-list for this marker. A wide shot of the marker in context • Can you help?
