Abraham Lincoln Memorial Garden facts for kids
Quick facts for kids |
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Lincoln, Abraham, Memorial Garden
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 Location in Illinois
Location in the United States
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| Location | 2301 E. Lake Dr., Springfield, Illinois |
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| Built | 1936 |
| Architect | Jensen, Jens |
| Architectural style | Prairie School |
| NRHP reference No. | 92001016 |
| Added to NRHP | August 12, 1992 |
The Abraham Lincoln Memorial Garden, often called the Lincoln Memorial Garden, is a special place in Springfield, Illinois. It's a large area of 100 acres (about 0.4 square kilometers) with woodlands and prairies. The city of Springfield owns it, but a group called the Abraham Lincoln Memorial Garden Foundation takes care of it.
The garden has two main parts. One is the Jensen section, which is 63 acres and sits next to Lake Springfield. The other is the newer Ostermeier Prairie Center, which is 29 acres. There are also 19 acres of extra land around the garden. Many volunteers help keep the garden beautiful, along with a small team of staff members.
Contents
History of the Garden
The idea for the Lincoln Memorial Garden came from a woman named Harriet Knudson. She was a leader in the Springfield Civic Garden Club. When she found out that Springfield was getting land for a new lake (Lake Springfield), she asked the city for a part of the shoreline. She wanted this land to be a garden to remember Abraham Lincoln. The city agreed, and the Jensen section was given to the garden forever. Back then, this land was mostly farms with only about 12 trees.
Designing the Garden
The garden chose a famous landscape architect named Jens Jensen to design it. Jensen followed a style called "Prairie Style." This style tries to make buildings and gardens look like they belong naturally in the landscape. Jensen wanted the garden to look like the beautiful woods and prairies of the Midwest.
In his 1935 design, Jensen added eight special spots called council rings. These are circles made of Midwestern stone, built for groups of 12 to 50 people to sit around a fire. Most of these circles are placed so you can see Lake Springfield. Jensen believed that sitting in these circles helped visitors feel connected to nature.
Planting and Growing
In 1936, the planting of the garden began. Jensen's plan included 28 types of tall trees and 14 types of medium-sized trees. He also planned for 23 kinds of shrubs and 11 types of wildflowers. All these plants are native to Illinois, Indiana, and Kentucky. These were the three states where Abraham Lincoln lived. Jensen was one of the first landscape designers in the U.S. to use only plants that naturally grow in the area. The family of Charles Walgreen, who owned drugstores, helped by donating money for the garden. The garden officially opened in 1939.
Later Additions
In 1965, a Nature Center was built within the Jensen Unit. This center helps visitors learn more about the plants and animals in the garden. In 1992, the Jensen Unit was added to the U.S. National Register of Historic Places. This means it's recognized as an important example of Jensen's landscape design. In 1995, the 29-acre Ostermeier Prairie Center was added. This area has about 20 acres of tallgrass prairie that is being brought back to its natural state.
Fun Activities at the Garden
The Lincoln Memorial Garden has about five miles (8 kilometers) of walking paths. You can explore and see many different plants.
Plants to See
In the Jensen Unit, you can find trees like the white oak (which is the state tree of Illinois). You can also see the sugar maple, the dogwood, and the redbud. In the Ostermeier Prairie Center, you'll see prairie grasses like big bluestem. There are also some trees like the bur oak that can survive fires.
Special Events
- Maple Syrup Festival: In early spring, the garden holds a maple syrup festival. They make a small amount of dark maple syrup from their own maple trees.
- Indian Summer Festival: In October, there's an Indian Summer Festival. This event celebrates when the leaves change colors in the fall.
The garden also has a nature center where you can learn more. There's also a gift store where you can buy souvenirs.
See also
In Spanish: Jardín conmemorativo Abraham Lincoln para niños
