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

Origins of the Literary Fairy Tale

Photographed by Sean P. Flynn, May 27, 2026

1. Origins of the Literary Fairy Tale Marker

Inscription. Did you know Hans Christian Andersen is credited with writing the first ever original fairy tale? Before 1835, all fairy tales were part of folk legend, meaning they had been handed down from generation to generation through oral tradition. Authors like the Brothers Grimm and Charles Perrault compiled fairy tales from interviews with people and then published them. But Hans Christian Andersen wrote Little Ida's Flowers in 1835 using only his imagination to craft a tale about flowers that attend a ball every night. This fairy tale, and all other original fairy tales written after it, are called "literary fairy tales," meaning they can be regarded as literature and not a retelling of a folk legend.

Hans Christian Andersen went on to publish over 150 fairy tales in his lifetime. His works have been translated into over 100 languages around the globe, making him one of the world's most widely read authors. Check the list of his most popular fairy tales to see if any of your favorites were written by Hans Christian Andersen!

Little Ida's Flowers (1835) • The Princess and the Pea (1835) • Thumbelina (1835) • The Little Mermaid (1837) • The Emperor's New Clothes (1837) • The Brave Tin Soldier (1838) • The Wild Swans (1838) • The Storks (1839) • The Ugly Duckling (1843) • The Fir Tree (1844) • The Red Shoes (1845) • The

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Snow Queen (1844) • The Daring Needle (1845) • The Little Match Girl (1845) • The Happy Family (1847) • The Old House (1847)

Erected 2026 by Park District of Oak Park.

Topics. This historical marker is listed in this topic list: Arts, Letters, Music. A significant historical year for this entry is 1835.

Location. 41° 54.054′ N, 87° 46.733′ W. Marker is in Oak Park, Illinois, in Cook County. It is on Hayes Avenue south of Division Street, on the right when traveling north. 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: A different marker also named Fairy Tales of Hans Christian Andersen (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

Andersen Park image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Sean P. Flynn, May 27, 2026

2. Andersen Park

but has been permanently removed); a different marker also named The Fairy Tales of Hans Christian Andersen (was a few steps from this 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 8 times since then. Photos: 1, 2. submitted on May 27, 2026, by Sean P. Flynn of Oak Park, Illinois.