Oak Park in Cook County, Illinois — The American Midwest (Great Lakes)

Fairy Tales of Hans Christian Andersen

Photographed by Sean P. Flynn, May 27, 2026

1. Fairy Tales of Hans Christian Andersen Marker

Inscription. Even though Hans Christian Andersen lived over 100 years ago and wrote tales to relate to children in his day, it's pleasantly surprising how many children (and adults) still find his fairy tales enjoyable. In fact, you are probably more familiar with the works of Hans Christian Andersen than you realize. For example, have you ever...

...Seen the movie The Little Mermaid? This tale was originally written back in 1836 by Andersen, and the story is still beloved today, just as it was over a century ago!

...Read The Chronicles of Narnia, you know the White Witch, C.S. Lewis based this character on Hans Christian Andersen's Snow Queen, first published in 1844.

...Watched the Tin Soldier scene in Disney's Fantasia 2000? The animation for the tin soldier scene set to music, was inspired by the Hans Christian Andersen 1838 fairy tale The Brave Tin Soldier.

Hans Christian Andersen's fairy tales have firmly embedded themselves in modern popular culture, all while still preserving the playful, whimsical charm that keeps them fresh year after year. So why wait? Find a book of Hans Christian Andersen's fairy tales today and start your journey into his enchanting world.

Erected 2026 by Park District of Oak Park.

Topics. This historical

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marker is listed in these topic lists: Arts, Letters, Music • Parks & Recreational Areas. A significant historical year for this entry is 1836.

Location. 41° 54.049′ N, 87° 46.731′ W. Marker is in Oak Park, Illinois, in Cook County. It is on Hayes Avenue south of Division Street. The marker is one of three in front of Andersen Park. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 824 Hayes Avenue, Oak Park IL 60302, United States of America. Touch for directions.

Regionally, this marker is in Greater Chicago.

It is also 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 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: Origins of the Literary Fairy Tale (a few steps from this marker); The Life of Hans Christian Andersen (a few steps from this marker); Gold Star Men of the World War (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); President Gerald Ford Lived Here (approx. half a mile 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 here, next to this marker but has been permanently removed); a different marker also named The Fairy Tales of Hans Christian Andersen (was a few steps from this

Andersen Park image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Sean P. Flynn, May 27, 2026

2. Andersen Park

marker but has been permanently removed); The Life and Times of Hans Christian Andersen (was a few steps from this marker but has been permanently removed).

More about this marker. This marker and two others were placed in front of Andersen Park at the completion of a renovation in 2025-26. The markers replaced three similar markers about Hans Christian Andersen's life and works that had previously been at the same spots.

Andersen Park is one of five in Oak Park named after children's authors. The others are named after Robert Louis Stevenson, Eugene Field, Lewis Carroll and J.M. Barrie.

Credits. This page was last revised on May 28, 2026. It was originally submitted on May 27, 2026, by Sean P. Flynn of Oak Park, Illinois. This page has been viewed 11 times since then. Photos: 1, 2. submitted on May 27, 2026, by Sean P. Flynn of Oak Park, Illinois.