Austin in Chicago in Cook County, Illinois — The American Midwest (Great Lakes)
Jens Jensen
Photographed by Sean P. Flynn, November 6, 2024
1. Jens Jensen Marker
Maker of parks and gardens, teacher of youth, friend of our native landscapeon this fragment of earth we mark brief homage
MCMLX
Erected 1960.
Topics and series. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Environment • Horticulture & Forestry • Parks & Recreational Areas. In addition, it is included in the Jens Jensen series list. A significant historical year for this entry is 1860.
Location. 41° 52.513′ N, 87° 46.094′ W. Marker is in Chicago, Illinois, in Cook County. It is in Austin. It can be reached from Golf Drive 0.2 miles south of Jackson Boulevard, on the left when traveling south. The marker is Columbus Park, along a pathway in the park's nature area, overlooking the lagoon. It's about a tenth-of-a-mile walk from Golf Drive. Touch for map. Marker is in this post office area: 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. Historically, it finds itself in
this page online
Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within walking distance of this marker: Columbus Park (within shouting distance of this marker); American Elm (Memorial to George Washington) (about 700 feet away, measured in a direct line); a different marker also named Columbus Park (approx. 0.2 miles away); Joseph Jacob Walser House (approx. half a mile away); Oak Park (approx. 0.6 miles away); "Family-Style" Electric Home (approx. 0.6 miles away); The New [Green] Bungalow (approx. 0.6 miles away); The Reverend Doctor Shelvin Jerome Hall (approx. 0.7 miles away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Chicago.
More about this marker. According to Chicago Park District photo archives, preserved by the city's public library, this boulder was dedicated on September 24, 1960, during the month of what would have been Jens Jensens 100th birthday. The bottom line of text on the marker has become covered with mud; the archive photos were used to determine the words "brief homage" and the Roman numeral year
Photographed by Sean P. Flynn, November 6, 2024
2. Jens Jensen Marker
The Columbus Park lagoon is in the background.
Regarding Jens Jensen. Danish-born landscape architect Jens Jensen was enormously influential in developing Chicago's parks in late 1800s and early 1900s. Using his Prairie Stylethe use of native specieshe redesigned Humboldt, Garfield and Douglas parks as commissioner of the West Park Commission, one of three commissions that would eventually form the Chicago Park District.
But it was Columbus Parkthe only West Park Commission site designed entirely by Jensenthat Jensen believed to be his masterpiece. Covering 135 acres of land about seven miles west of downtown, along Chicago's border with suburban Oak Park, Columbus Park was constructed between 1915 and 1920 as the largest west-side park in almost 50 years. Here, Jensen employed the Prairie Style to its fullest extent, using native plants and creating realistic-looking water features. This boulder, dedicated in 1960, is along a pathway through the park's Jensen-designed Natural Area, featuring stone waterfalls, the man-made but realistic-looking lagoon, and native plants.
Jensen retired as park commissioner in 1920 and entered private practice, continuing to
Photographed by Sean P. Flynn, November 6, 2024
3. Columbus Park Lagoon
The Jensen boulder is not visible in this photo, obscured by plants and trees, but can be found on the other side of the lagoon on the left side of the photo.
Also see . . .
1. Jens Jensen: "Apostle of the Dunes". The National Park Service looks at the life and impact of Jens Jensen, whose many feats including the preservation of the Indiana Dunes, some of which is today a national park.
In the early 1900s, many natural areas were being destroyed due to the rapid growth of cities and towns. Jens Jensen worried that people were losing touch with nature. He feared that living in an entirely artificial environment would leave humanity spiritually, emotionally, and intellectually empty. Through a variety of ways, Jensen promoted an appreciation for the outdoors to emotionally and spiritually uplift city dwellers. Many of these efforts were geared toward children, such as the addition of children's gardens to several parks. Through these gardens, he believed children would(Submitted on November 6, 2024, by Sean P. Flynn of Oak Park, Illinois.)grow up to respect, preserve, and love nature."Photographed by Sean P. Flynn, November 6, 20244. Columbus Park Natural AreaJens Jensen designed this waterfall and stream, which can be found today in the Columbus Park Natural Area a short walk from this boulder dedicated in Jensen's honor.
2. The Legacy of Landscape Architect Jens Jensen. From the Chicago Detours website, a look at Jensen's works around Chicagoland
Excerpt: "Columbus Park is the only Chicago park that Jens Jensen designed entirely by himself. The far West Side swarmed with people, but had very little open recreational space. So the West Park Commission, er, commissioned Jensen to do what many consider to be his finest work in landscape design for our Chicago parks."(Submitted on November 6, 2024, by Sean P. Flynn of Oak Park, Illinois.)
Courtesy of Chicago Public Library, Chicago Park District Collection, September 24, 1960
5. Jens Jensen's great-granddaughters dedicate the boulder
According to the caption provided by the Chicago Public Library, the girls in this photo dedicating the boulder are three of Jensen's great-granddaughters. Based on the visual evidence, it's possible the boulder was dedicated in a different location from where it is now, although likely not far away.
Morton Arboretum Special Collections, 1900
6. Jens and Anna Marie Jensen (circa 1900)
Jens Jensen and his wife Anna Marie in front of their home on Sacramento Avenue, near Humboldt Park.
Credits. This page was last revised on November 11, 2024. It was originally submitted on November 6, 2024, by Sean P. Flynn of Oak Park, Illinois. This page has been viewed 203 times since then and 28 times this year. Photos: 1, 2, 3. submitted on November 6, 2024, by Sean P. Flynn of Oak Park, Illinois. 4. submitted on November 11, 2024, by Sean P. Flynn of Oak Park, Illinois. 5. submitted on November 6, 2024, by Sean P. Flynn of Oak Park, Illinois. 6. submitted on October 14, 2023, by Sean P. Flynn of Oak Park, Illinois.
