CHICAGO'S BOULEVARDS

A BRIEF HISTORY

In 1837, when Chicago selected its motto *Urbs in Horto* ("City in a Garden"), there were very few parks here. This was not uncommon: New York City did not start building Central Park until the 1850s, and construction of Boston's "emerald necklace" did not begin until 30 years after that.
So, in 1849, when Chicago developer John S. Wright proposed a vast network of parks and boulevards with the hopes of encouraging development, he was suggesting something new:

*Of these parks I have a vision. They are all improved and connected with a wide avenue extending to and along the Lake shore on the north and south, and so surrounding the city with a magnificent chain of parks and parkways that have not their equal in the World.*

It took two decades for Wright's innovative idea to become a viable support. The 1869 Illinois "parks bills" established three regional park commissions to secure a unified system of parks linked by walks.

The South Commission hired Frederick Law Olmsted, America's premier landscape architect, who styled landscapes with informal groupings of trees and meandering pathways. The West Commission's lead designer was William LeBaron Jefferoy, whose formal rows of trees complemented the geometric paths he planned. Later, Jens Jensen, founder of Prairie-style landscape architecture, created a more natural look for the west parks and boulevards using native plantings. Legal challenges precluded construction of the North Commission's design for Diversey Parkway.

Much of Chicago's boulevard system was constructed during the real estate boom of the late 19th century. As these boulevards were completed, they became popular recreational and social destinations. Chicago's promenaded and rode horses and carriages along the smoothest roads of their era. As John Wright and others had hoped, the boulevards gradually attracted residential

DREXEL BOULEVARD, CIRCA 1870

developers. The most magnificent mansions were built along Grand (now King Drive) and Drexel boulevards.

When Chicago held the 1893 World's Columbian Exposition in Jackson Park and along the Midway Plaisance, it showcased a grand park system that few American cities could match. Inspired by this display, Kansas City, Minneapolis, and Washington, D.C., initiated the development of their own park and parkway systems.

In the early 1930s, the three park commissions were consolidated to become the Chicago Park District. The Park District maintained the botanicals until 1959, when the responsibility was turned over to the City of Chicago. Today, the parks and boulevards remain a testament to the vision that helped establish Chicago as a national model.

CHICAGO'S BOULEVARDS are one of the city's most overlooked treasures, and one of the largest and oldest boulevard systems in the nation. The 28-mile system contains 540 acres of green space, and provides a link between seven inland parks and Lake Michigan.

Although originally built on Chicago's outskirts, the boulevards today encircle the heart of the city and are within three blocks of the homes of one out of every six Chicago residents. The longest boulevard segment is Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Drive (4.5 miles), while the shortest is Central Park (less than one mile). The widest is the Midway Plaisance (750 feet); the narrowest, Diversey Parkway (66 feet).

LORADO TAFT'S FOUNTAIN OF TIME

MONUMENTS

A Drexel Fountain

1881, Henry Manger
One of the oldest in the city, this fountain honors Francis Drexel, a Philadelphia banker who donated the land for Drexel Boulevard.

B Fountain of Time

1922, Lorillard Taft
The masterpiece of one of Chicago's foremost sculptors, this depiction of the "Ages of Man" took 14 years to complete.

C Carl von Linne Monument

1891, Johan Dyfferman
This monument depicts the Swedish botanist who originated the modern scientific classification system for plants and animals.

D Masaryk Memorial

1949, Albin Polizek
This statue of the Mediev1 knight, St. Wenceslaus, was dedicated to Thomas Masaryk, Czechoslovakia's first president and a former University of Chicago faculty member.

E Victory Monument

1927, Leonard Crunelle
Dedicated to members of the Eighth Regiment of the Illinois National Guard (an All-American unit) who died in service during World War I. The "doughboy" was added in 1916.

F Washington Monument

1904, Daniel Chester French and Edward Clark Potter
This statue of George Washington at the time of the Revolutionary War is a duplicate of one in Paris.

G Vietnam Veterans Marker

This marker and flag pole were commissioned by the Gage Park Civic Association in 1983.

H McKinley Monument

1903, Charles J. Malligan
This statue was installed in honor of President William McKinley, who was assassinated in 1901.

I Marquette Monument

1926, Herman Atkins MacNeil
Jacques Marquette, Louis Joliet, and an Algonquin Indian are depicted as they explored the Illinois River Valley in 1673.

J One Family-One World

1979, Sidney Murphy
This sculpture was designed by the winner of a local high school student design competition.

K Independence Fountain

1902, Charles J. Malligan
This fountain honors American youth and Independence Day. Four children are depicted celebrating the Fourth of July.

L Illinois Centennial Column

1918, Henry Bacon
This monument, which honored 100 years of Illinois statehood, was designed by the architect of the Lincoln Memorial in Washington, D.C. Evelyn Longman sculpted the eagle.

Background photo: Midway Plaisance, circa 1910. Chicago Historical Society (CHS) 20806

CHICAGO'S BOULEVARDS

Care one of the city's most overlooked treasures,
and one of the largest and oldest boulevard sys-
tems in the nation. The 28-mile system contains 540 acres
of green space, and provides a link between seven inland
parks and Lake Michigan.

A BRIEF HISTORY

In 1837, when Chicago selected its motto "Uns in Herto ("City in a Garden"), there was very few parks here. This was not uncommon: New York City did not start building Central Park until the 1850s, and construction of Boston's "emerald necklace" did not begin until 30 years after that.

> Of these parks I have a vision. They are all improved and connected with a system of大道 extending to and along the Lake shore on the north and south, and so surrounding the city with a magnificent chain of parks and parkways that have not their equal in the World.

It took two decades for Wright's innovative idea to gain public support. The 1869 Illinois "parks bills" established three regional park commissions to create a unified system of parks linked by pleasure drives.

The South Commission hired Frederick Law Olmsted, America's premier landscape architect, who styled landscapes with informal groupings of trees and meandering pathways. The West Commission's lead designer was William LeBaron Jenney, whose formal rows of trees complemented the geometric paths he planned. Later, Jens Jensen, founder of Prairie-style landscape architecture, created a more natural look for the west parks and boulevards using native plantings.

Much of Chicago's boulevard system was constructed during the real estate boom of the late 19th century. As these boulevards were completed, they became popular recreational and social destinations. Chicagoans promenaded and rode horses and carriages along the smoothest roads of their area. As John Wright and others had hoped, the boulevards gradually attracted residential

CHICAGO'S BOULEVARDS
Care one of the city's most overlooked treasures, and one of the largest and oldest boulevard systems in the nation. The 28-mile system contains 540 acres of green space, and provides a link between seven inland parks and Lake Michigan.

DREXEL BOULEVARD, CIRCA 1870

In the early 1930s, the three park commissions were consolidated to become the Chicago Park District. The Park District maintained the boulevards until 1959, when the responsibility was turned over to the City of Chicago. Today, the parks and boulevards remain a testament to the vision that helped establish Chicago as a national model.

Background photo: Midway Plaisance, c.1910

Chicago Historical Society Collection

TORADO TAFT'S FOUNTAIN OF TIME

MONUMENTS

A Drexel Fountain

1881, Henry Manger

B Fountain of Time

1922, Colorado Taft

Cari von Linne Monument

1891, Johan Dyfferman

D Masaryk Memorial

1929, Anton Palatín

This statue of the medieval knight, St. Wenceslaus, was dedicated to Thomas Masaryk, Czechoslovakia's first president and a former University of Chicago faculty member.

E Victory Monument

1927, Leonard Crumell

Dedicated to members of the Eighth Regiment of the Illinois National Guard (an African-American unit) who died in service during World War I. The "doughboy" was added in 1936.

F Washington Memorial

G Vietnam Veterans Marker

H McKinLEY MONUMENT

1905, Charles J. Mulligan

I MARQUETTE MONUMENT

1926, Hermon Atkins MacNeil

Jacques Marquette, Louis Joliff, and an Algonquin Indian are depicted as they explored the Illinois River Valley in 1673.

J One Family-One World

1979, Sidney Murphy

K Independence Fountain

1902, Charles J. Mulligan

L Illinois Centennial Column

1918, Henry Bacon

A BRIEF HISTORY

In 1837, when Chicago selected its motto "Chicagoland" ("City in a Garden"), there were very few parks here. This was not uncommon: New York City did not start building Central Park until the 1850s, and construction of Boston's "emerald necklace" did not begin until 30 years after that.
So, in 1849, when Chicago developer John S. Wright proposed a vast network of parks and boulevards with the hopes of encouraging development, he was suggesting something new:

> Of these parks I have a vision. They are all improved and connected with a wide avenue extending to and along the Lake shore on the north and south, and so surrounding the city with a magnificent chain of parks and parkways that have not their equal in the World.

It took two decades for Wright's innovative idea to gain public support. The 1869 Illinois "parks bill" established three regional park commissions to oversee a unified system of parks linked by pleasure drives.

The South Commission hired Frederick Law Olmsted, America's premier landscape architect, who styled landscapes with informal groupings of trees and meandering pathways. The West Commission's lead designer was William LeBaron Jenney, whose formal rows of trees complemented the geometric paths he planned. Later, Jens Jensen, founder of Prairie-style landscape architecture, created a more natural look for the west parks and boulevards using native plantings. Legal challenges precluded construction of the North Commission's design for Diversey Parkway.

Much of Chicago's boulevard system was constructed during the real estate boom of the late 19th century. As those boulevards were created, they became popular recreational and social destinations. Chicago's promenade and rod and gun houses and cigarettes along the smoothest roads of the city. As John Wright and others had hoped, the boulevards and early attracted residential

DREXEL BOULEVARD, CIRCA 1870

In the early 1910s, the three park commissions were consolidated to become the Chicago Park District. The Park District maintained the boulevards until 1959, when the responsibility was turned over to the City of Chicago. Today, the parks and boulevards remain a testament to the vision that helped establish Chicago as a national model.

Background photo: Midway Plaisance, Circa 1870 (Chicago Historical Society K-1201)

Lorado Taft

MONUMENTS

A Drexel Fountain

1881, Henry Manger

B Fountain of Time

1922, Lorado Taft

C Cari von Linne Monument

1891, Johan Duyverman

D Masaryk Memorial

1949, Albrecht Dürer

This statue of the medieval knight, St. Wenceslaus was dedicated to Thomas Masaryk, Czechoslovakia's first president and a former University of Chicago faculty member.

E Victory Monument

1927, Leonard Crumple

Dedicated to members of the Eighth Regiment of the Illinois National Guard (an African-American unit) who died in service during World War I. The "doughboys" was added in 1936.

F Washington Memorial

1804, Daniel Chester French and J. Edward Clark Potter

G Vietnam Veterans Marker

This market and flag pole were commissioned by the Gage Park Civic Association in 1983.

H McKinley Monument

1903, Charles J. Mulligan

I Marquette Monument

1926, Harmon Atkins MacNeil

Jacques Marquette, Louis Joliet, and an Algonquin Indian are depicted as they explored the Illinois River Valley in 1671.

J One Family-One World

1979, Sidney Marphy

K Independence Fountain

1902, Charles J. Mulligan

L Illinois Centennial Column

1918, Henry Bacon