Lea's Woods in Memphis in Shelby County, Tennessee — The American South (East South Central)

Overton Park

Photographed By Don Morfe, April 20, 2014

1. Overton Park Marker

Inscription. The 342 acre Lea Woods was bought in 1901 as the first project of Memphis Park Commission on advice of Olmsted Brothers, noted landscape and architects. By popular vote it was named for Judge John Overton, a city founder. Naturalistic landscaping was by George Kessler, landscape architect. Soon added were the zoo, 1905; the first city golf course, 1911; Brooks Art Gallery, 1916. The park with its unique 175 acres of climax oak-hickory urban forest was preserved as a unit by the U.S. Supreme Court's landmark decision, 1971. Placed in National Register of Historic Places by the United States Department of the Interior 1979.

Erected 1981 by Citizens to Preserve Overton Park and the Memphis Park Commission.

Topics. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Charity & Public Work • Landmarks. A significant historical year for this entry is 1901.

Location. 35° 8.814′ N, 89° 58.932′ W. Marker is in Memphis, Tennessee, in Shelby County. It is in Lea's Woods. Marker is on East Parkway. Touch for map. Marker is in this post office area: Memphis TN 38112, United States of America. Touch for directions.

Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within walking distance of this marker. Joseph Hanover (approx. 0.4 miles away); First Baptist Church (approx. half a mile away); Rhodes College (approx. 0.7 miles away); Memphis Belle

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(approx. 0.7 miles away); The Overton Park Shell/The Levitt Shell At Overton Park (approx. ¾ mile away); Tennessee Williams Play (approx. 0.8 miles away); William Neely Mallory (approx. 0.8 miles away); Southwestern Alumni World War II Memorial (approx. 0.8 miles away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Memphis.

Photographed By Don Morfe, April 20, 2014

2. Overton Park Marker

<i>Elephant House at the Zoo, Overton Park, Memphis, Tenn.</i> image. Click for full size.

circa 1924

3. Elephant House at the Zoo, Overton Park, Memphis, Tenn.

<i>Rainbow Lake in Overton Park, Memphis, Tenn.</i> image. Click for full size.

circa 1925

4. Rainbow Lake in Overton Park, Memphis, Tenn.

<i>Brooks Memorial Art Gallery, Overton Park, Memphis, Tenn.</i> image. Click for full size.

circa 1930

5. Brooks Memorial Art Gallery, Overton Park, Memphis, Tenn.

Credits. This page was last revised on February 7, 2023. It was originally submitted on June 25, 2014, by Don Morfe of Baltimore, Maryland. This page has been viewed 631 times since then and 29 times this year. Last updated on May 3, 2015, by J. Makali Bruton of Accra, Ghana. Photos: 1, 2. submitted on June 25, 2014, by Don Morfe of Baltimore, Maryland. 3, 4, 5. submitted on September 1, 2015. • Andrew Ruppenstein was the editor who published this page.