Uptown in Harrisburg in Dauphin County, Pennsylvania — The American Northeast (Mid-Atlantic)

Italian Lake

Photographed by William Pfingsten, March 21, 2008

1. Italian Lake Marker

Inscription. As early as 1903, reference was made to a strip of ground at the "head of Second Street" above Division Street which would become part of the comprehensive parks improvement plan advanced by landscape architect Warren Manning of Boston at the start of Harrisburg's City Beautiful Movement. Known even then as Italian Park, the land was a wooded wetland fed by springs and was a popular place for outings as were other sylvan areas just outside the city limits prior to the establishment of the city's park system. The "Italian" reference can best be attributed to Harrisburg hosteler Patricio Russ (1852-1925) who, in addition to operating several downtown Harrisburg hotels, had established a traveling lodge on N. Front Street known as the "Italian" Hotel, a name that became associated with the surrounding area. Although the future park was set forth in Manning's original concept, it would not be until the 1925 construction of the new William Penn High School that public improvements, supporting the quality of the overall development of the Uptown and Riverside neighborhoods, began to fall into place. That year, formal plans were

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advanced to create two lakes from the old watering hole and to use fill from the high school's excavation for grading and landscaping the new park. Between 1925 and 1939, the park and its formal gardens would slowly emerge to become an exquisite place of beauty. Distinguished by the landmark Japanese Bridge, and the elegant Dance of the Eternal Spring sculpture, which dates to 1909 and was placed in the southern lake's center in 1971, the park was even further enhanced by the 1990' under the Mayor's Citywide Parks Improvement Program, through the installation of period lighting fixtures, expanded gardens and walkways, and lake shoreline improvement.
Top Photo
1926 view looking north near Division Street showing commencement of grading work and original lake wetlands.
Bottom Photo
1931 aerial view looking north toward the partially-developed Riverside neighborhood with Italian Lake Park and Will Penn High School at right.

Erected by The Harrisburg History Project Commissioned by Mayor Stephen R. Reed.

Topics and series. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Bridges & Viaducts • Entertainment •

Italian Lake and Marker image. Click for full size.

Photographed by William Fischer, Jr., October 18, 2024

2. Italian Lake and Marker

Industry & Commerce • Parks & Recreational Areas • Waterways & Vessels. In addition, it is included in the Pennsylvania, The Harrisburg History Project series list. A significant historical year for this entry is 1903.

Location. 40° 17.484′ N, 76° 54.071′ W. Marker is in Harrisburg, Pennsylvania, in Dauphin County. It is in Uptown. It is at the intersection of Division Street and Third Street, on the left when traveling east on Division Street. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 2800 Division St, Harrisburg PA 17110, United States of America. Touch for directions.

Regionally, this marker is in South-Central Pennsylvania, specifically in Pennsylvania Dutch Country,

and in the Susquehanna Valley.

It is also in the American Northeast

and in the Mid-Atlantic.

Globally, it is in North America,

the Western Hemisphere,

the Western World,

and the Anglosphere.

Historically, it finds itself in what was once the Haudenosaunee (Iroquois) Confederacy

and also one of the original Thirteen Colonies.

Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within walking distance of this marker: Zembo Shrine Temple (within

Italian Lake Park image. Click for full size.

Photographed by William Pfingsten, March 21, 2008

3. Italian Lake Park

shouting distance of this marker); Dauphin County Civil War Memorial (about 300 feet away, measured in a direct line); Former William Penn High School (about 700 feet away); Harrisburg Polyclinic Hospital (approx. ¼ mile away); Old Harrisburg Academy / Dixon University Center (approx. 0.3 miles away); Camp Curtin Fire Company No. 13 (approx. half a mile away); Harrisburg (approx. 0.7 miles away); Camp Curtin Memorial-Mitchell United Methodist Church (approx. 0.8 miles away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Harrisburg.

Italian Lake Sign image. Click for full size.

Photographed by William Pfingsten, March 21, 2008

4. Italian Lake Sign

Photographed by John K. Robinson, August 18, 2008

5. Italian Lake Marker

Italian Lake and park as seen from the south entrance.

Photographed by John K. Robinson, August 18, 2008

6. Italian Lake Marker

The "Chinese Bridge" spans the spot where the north and south lakes meet.

Photographed by John K. Robinson, August 18, 2008

7. Italian Lake Marker

North end of lake seen from "Chinese Bridge."

Photographed by John K. Robinson, August 18, 2008

8. Italian Lake Marker

Statue of nymphs moved to the lake from the former rose garden at Polyclinic Hospital.

Credits. This page was last revised on October 22, 2024. It was originally submitted on March 22, 2008, by Bill Pfingsten of Bel Air, Maryland. This page has been viewed 4,617 times since then and 163 times this year. Photos: 1. submitted on March 22, 2008, by Bill Pfingsten of Bel Air, Maryland. 2. submitted on October 22, 2024, by William Fischer, Jr. of Reynoldsburg, Ohio. 3, 4. submitted on March 22, 2008, by Bill Pfingsten of Bel Air, Maryland. 5, 6, 7, 8. submitted on August 2, 2009, by John K. Robinson of Harrisburg, Pennsylvania.