Garfield Park

Originally known as Central Park, Garfield Park was conceived as the centerpiece of the West Park System in 1869 and was renamed after President James Garfield's assassination in 1881. Plans for the ensemble of Humboldt, Garfield, and Douglas parks with connecting boulevards were completed in 1871 by William Le Baron Jenney. Because the full plan could not be carried out at once, the park developed in stages, beginning with the east lagoon. In 1905, Jens Jensen transformed unfinished areas into gardens and naturalistic landscapes and designed the Garfield Park Conservatory, a vast and distinctive glass building for the display of plants. In 1927, a ten million dollar bond issue led to construction of several new park buildings, including the ornate Gold Dome Building, a Spanish Revival headquarters for the West Park System. When office space was no longer needed in the 1930's, the building was converted into the Garfield Park fieldhouse, which continues to provide cultural and athletic programs.

Chicago, Illinois · United States