Austin in Chicago in Cook County, Illinois — The American Midwest (Great Lakes)

Columbus Park

Photographed by Sean P. Flynn, November 3, 2024

1. Columbus Park Marker

National Historic Landmark Nomination:
Click for more information.

Inscription. Historic District on the National Register of Historic Places
U.S. Department of the Interior
Chicago Park District Landmark, 1991

Erected by Chicago Park District.

Topics and series. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Horticulture & Forestry • Parks & Recreational Areas. In addition, it is included in the Jens Jensen, and the National Register of Historic Places (NRHP) series lists. A significant historical year for this entry is 1915.

Location. 41° 52.485′ N, 87° 46.129′ W. Marker is in Chicago, Illinois, in Cook County. It is in Austin. It is on Golf Drive 0.2 miles south of Jackson Boulevard. The marker is in Columbus Park, near the end of the cul-de-sac road that runs next to the park's golf course. A pathway from the marker leads to the park's natural area. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 5701 West Jackson Boulevard, Chicago IL 60644, United States of America. Touch for directions.

Regionally, this marker is in the American Midwest

and on the Great Lakes.

Globally, it is in North America,

the Western Hemisphere,

the Western World,

and the Anglosphere.

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Historically, it finds 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 marker: Jens Jensen (within shouting distance of this marker); American Elm (Memorial to George Washington) (approx. 0.2 miles away); a different marker also named Columbus Park (approx. 0.2 miles away); Joseph Jacob Walser House (approx. half a mile away); "Family-Style" Electric Home (approx. 0.6 miles away); The New [Green] Bungalow (approx. 0.6 miles away); Oak Park (approx. 0.6 miles away); Austin VFW Post 2955 War Memorial (approx. 0.7 miles away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Chicago.

More about this marker. While Columbus Park is noted as a "Chicago Park District Landmark," neither the park nor any of its buildings or other features has been awarded Chicago Landmark status by the city's Commission for Chicago Landmarks.

Regarding Columbus Park. The 135-acre Columbus Park was developed by the West Park Commission, one of Chicago's three park commissions that, before merging

Columbus Park Marker image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Sean P. Flynn, November 3, 2024

2. Columbus Park Marker

In the background of this northeast-facing photo is the Columbus Park Natural Area; steps and a waterfall can be seen.

into the Chicago Park District in the 1930s, created parks across the city during its first 100 years. Columbus Park was constructed between 1915 and 1920 as the largest west-side park in almost 50 years. It was the commission's only park designed completely by its long-time superintendent, famed landscape architect Jens Jensen.

Considered his masterpiece, Jensen employed his Prairie style to its full extent, including the use of native prairie plants and the creation of realistic-looking water features. All of this is on display near this historical marker, which is at the start of a pathway through the Jensen-designed Columbus Park Natural Area, featuring stone waterfalls, the lagoon and native plants.

The nearby park refectory, overlooking the lagoon, was added in 1922, after Jensen had been left his role as the West Park Commission leader. Nine acres on the southern edge of the park were lost in 1953 when the Eisenhower Expressway was built.

Also see . . . Chicago's Columbus Park: The Prairie Idealized (Teaching with Historic Places). An article about Columbus Park from the National Park Service. (Submitted on November 4, 2024, by Sean P. Flynn of Oak Park, Illinois.)

Photographed by Sean P. Flynn, November 3, 2024

3. Columbus Park Marker

The marker is next to Golf Drive. In the background is the Columbus Park golf course.

Columbus Park image. Click for full size.

Courtesy of the Chicago Public Library, Chicago Park District Collection, circa 1940

4. Columbus Park

This southward-facing aerial view of Columbus Park, part of the Chicago Public Library's collection of photographs related to the Chicago Park District, is likely from the 1930s or 1940s, as it appears to predate the building of the Eisenhower Expressway, which lopped off about nine acres of land on the park's southern end (the top of this photo).

Columbus Park Natural Area image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Sean P. Flynn, November 6, 2024

5. Columbus Park Natural Area

Jens Jensen designed this waterfall and stream, which can be found today in the Columbus Park Natural Area a short walk from this memorial.

Credits. This page was last revised on November 14, 2024. It was originally submitted on November 4, 2024, by Sean P. Flynn of Oak Park, Illinois. This page has been viewed 333 times since then and 22 times this year. Photos: 1, 2, 3, 4. submitted on November 4, 2024, by Sean P. Flynn of Oak Park, Illinois. 5. submitted on November 11, 2024, by Sean P. Flynn of Oak Park, Illinois.