Shakespeare Garden (Evanston, Illinois) facts for kids
Quick facts for kids |
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Shakespeare Garden
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Shakespeare Garden
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 Location in Illinois
Location in the United States
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| Location | Northwestern University campus, Evanston, Illinois |
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| Area | less than one acre |
| Architect | Jensen, Jens; Burnham Bros. |
| NRHP reference No. | 88002234 |
| Added to NRHP | November 16, 1988 |
The Shakespeare Garden in Evanston, Illinois, United States, is a special type of garden found on the campus of Northwestern University. It's called a Shakespeare garden because it features plants mentioned in William Shakespeare's plays or plants that were common during his time. This garden was planned in 1915 and built between 1916 and 1929. It holds a unique place in history as the very first Shakespeare Garden in the United States. A famous landscape architect named Jens Jensen designed it. The Garden Club of Evanston built and still takes care of this beautiful spot. In 1988, the garden was recognized as an important historical site and was added to the U.S. National Register of Historic Places.
Contents
Discover the Garden's Design
The Shakespeare Garden is located on the Northwestern University campus. You can find it at the corner of Sheridan Road and Garrett Place, close to the Howes Chapel and the Garrett–Evangelical Theological Seminary. The garden is about 70 feet (21 meters) wide and 120 feet (37 meters) long. It's divided into eight different flower beds.
Garden Beds and Plants
The four beds on the outside of the garden are designed in a natural, informal way. The four beds in the center are knot gardens, which means they have a very neat, woven pattern. These inner and outer beds are separated by boxwood plants, which are small, evergreen shrubs.
The edges of the garden are lined with hawthorn trees. Many of these trees were brought all the way from France when the garden was first planted! The garden is home to more than fifty different kinds of plants. Each plant was chosen because it was either mentioned in Shakespeare's plays, was common in England during the Tudor period (when Shakespeare lived), or is a type of plant related to those two categories.
Special Features of the Garden
Besides the many plants, the garden also has a lovely fountain. This fountain has a special plaque that honors William Shakespeare. There's also a stone memorial in the garden. This memorial was designed by Hubert Burnham, whose father, Daniel Burnham, was a famous architect.
A Look at the Garden's History
The idea for the Shakespeare Garden started in 1915. The Drama League of America suggested building Shakespeare gardens across the country. This was to celebrate the 300th anniversary of William Shakespeare's death.
How the Garden Began
Jens Jensen, a well-known landscape architect from Chicago and a member of the Drama League, designed a garden. Another member, Alice Houston, suggested that the Garden Club of Evanston should build it. Northwestern University agreed to host the garden on its campus in late 1915. Construction and planting began the next spring.
To raise money for the garden, the Garden Club held its first garden fair in May 1916. This fair became a yearly event and is still held today! The main planting in the garden was finished by 1920. Over the next ten years, the Garden Club added other features to the garden, like the fountain and memorial. When it was completed, this garden was the first Shakespeare Garden in the entire United States.
Garden's Later Years
In 1930, the garden was officially given to Northwestern University. However, the Garden Club of Evanston still lovingly maintains it. The garden was added to the National Register of Historic Places on November 16, 1988, recognizing its historical importance. In 1990, a sundial and brick edging were added to the inner flower beds. The garden celebrated its 100th birthday in 2015!
