Wauconda in Lake County, Illinois — The American Midwest (Great Lakes)
A Geologic Youngster
Photographed by Sean P. Flynn, May 10, 2025
1. A Geologic Youngster Marker
The enormous weight of the isolated icebergs forced them deep into the earth. As the climate warmed up, the partially buried icebergs melted. Meltwater replaced the ice in the depressions-called kettles. Dying plant material filled in around the edges of the water-filled kettles forming peat. Slowly, the lakes and wetlands of today were born.
[Caption next to map:]
Drawing of Bangs Lake as recorded by Land Surveyors around 1825. Notice the "Not navigable" notation written within the lake.
[Captions beneath drawings:]
Glaciers retreated to the northeast
Icebergs broke off the back of glaciers as they retreated
Isolated and abandoned, icebergs slowly sank into the earth
As the climate slowly warmed, meltwater from the marooned icebergs formed freshwater lakes
Topics. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Parks & Recreational Areas
this page online
Location. 42° 16.02′ N, 88° 8.469′ W. Marker is in Wauconda, Illinois, in Lake County. It can be reached from Main Street, on the right when traveling north. The marker is near a pier at Bangs Lake on the far southeastern edge of Cook Memorial Park. It is accessible by walking from the parking lot on the southern side of the park. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 600 North Main Street, Wauconda IL 60084, United States of America. Touch for directions.
Regionally, this marker is in Greater Chicago. It is also in the American Midwest. Globally, it is in North America, on the Great Lakes, in the Western Hemisphere, in the Western World, and in the Anglosphere. Historically, it finds itself in what was once the territory of the Mississippian Culture and also the Northwest Territory.
Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within walking distance of this marker: Andrew C. Cook House (approx. Ό mile away); Wauconda Township (approx. Ό mile away); Wauconda Township World War I Memorial (approx.
Photographed by Sean P. Flynn, May 10, 2025
2. A Geologic Youngster Marker and Bangs Lake
Regarding A Geologic Youngster. Bangs Lake is named after Justus Bangs, the first white settler in Wauconda. Scenes from the movie "The Blues Brothers" were filmed here.
Also see . . .
1. Village of Wauconda: Bangs Lake.
Excerpt: "Bangs Lake is a natural glacial lake located in northeastern Illinois Lake County and is considered a popular destination for family recreation in the Chicagoland area. The lake is managed by the Village of Wauconda, in cooperation with the Lake County Health Department and the Illinois Department of Natural Resources. Although the majority of property around the lake is privately owned, the Wauconda Park District maintains the communitys public beach, Phil's Beach, and its facilities."(Submitted on May 10, 2025, by Sean P. Flynn of Oak Park, Illinois.)
2. Illinois State Museum: Glacial Landforms.
Photographed by Sean P. Flynn, May 10, 2025
3. Close-up of the historic Bangs Lake map on the marker
Excerpt: "Kettles Depressions formed when ice broke into chunks that became buried in sediment. When the ice block melted, it left a depression, which sometimes filled with water to form kettle lakes. Kettle lakes are common in northern and central Illinois."(Submitted on May 10, 2025, by Sean P. Flynn of Oak Park, Illinois.)
3. Encyclopedia of Chicago: Wauconda, IL. From the Chicago Historical Society
Excerpt: In 1850 Bangs and Cook platted a village to aid in the sale of area land. They called the unincorporated town Bangs Lake, although others called the community 'Wauconda' at the suggestion of a local schoolteacher impressed with an Indian character from a romance novel of the time.(Submitted on May 12, 2025, by Sean P. Flynn of Oak Park, Illinois.)
Credits. This page was last revised on May 12, 2025. It was originally submitted on May 10, 2025, by Sean P. Flynn of Oak Park, Illinois. This page has been viewed 121 times since then and 22 times this year. Photos: 1, 2, 3. submitted on May 10, 2025, by Sean P. Flynn of Oak Park, Illinois.
