Washington Square Park (Chicago) facts for kids
Quick facts for kids |
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Washington Square
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Washington Square Park (Background: Newberry Library)
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 Location in Near North Side, Chicago
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| Location | 901 N. Clark St., Chicago, Illinois |
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| Built | September 4, 1842 (donation date) |
| MPS | Chicago Park District MPS |
| NRHP reference No. | 91000566 |
| Added to NRHP | May 20, 1991 |
Washington Square, also known as Washington Square Park, is a special park in Chicago, Illinois. It's a registered historic landmark, meaning it's an important place from the past. Many people know it by its fun nickname, Bughouse Square. This name came from the lively, sometimes wild, discussions that happened there.
For many years, Washington Square was famous as a place where anyone could stand up and share their ideas. It was like a giant outdoor classroom or debate club! The park is located at 901 N. Clark Street in the Near North Side area of Chicago, right across from the Newberry Library. It's Chicago's oldest small park that is still around today. It was added to the National Register of Historic Places on May 20, 1991, recognizing its importance.
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History of Washington Square Park
How Washington Square Park Started
The story of Washington Square Park began on September 4, 1842. On that day, a company called the American Land Company gave three acres of land to the city. They wanted it to be a public park for everyone to enjoy. This land used to be a path where cows walked, and it even had a well for farmers to water their cattle. The people who donated the land insisted it be named Washington Square.
Over the years, the park got many improvements. Between 1869 and the 1890s, the city added grass, trees, and walking paths. They also put in stone borders, a picket fence, and a beautiful Victorian fountain. By the early 1900s, the park needed some care. A city leader named Alderman McCormick used his own salary to help. He donated a new fountain, and the city spent more money to fix up the park. By the 1910s, many different kinds of people lived in the neighborhood around Washington Square.
Washington Square Park: A Place for Ideas
The park was always meant to be a place where people could gather and talk about important community issues. Chicago has a long history of public speeches, both for fun and for learning. Washington Square Park became the main spot for these public talks.
By the 1890s, the park earned its nickname, Bughouse Square. People would stand on "soapboxes" (like small platforms) and talk about all sorts of topics. These "soapbox orators" discussed everything from how people get along to big ideas about society. It was a popular place for these speakers on warm evenings from the 1910s until the mid-1960s.
Just like Speakers' Corner in London's Hyde Park, Washington Square became famous for its speakers. Artists, writers, political thinkers, and even people just passing through would share their thoughts. They would lecture, read poems, or just passionately talk about their ideas. A group of regular speakers even formed a club called "The Dill Pickle Club," which was all about free expression. For many years, the speakers at Washington Square even chose their own honorary "king." In its busiest times, during the 1920s and 1930s, you could hear poets, religious speakers, and many unique individuals sharing their views. In 1959, the city gave control of Washington Square to the Chicago Park District. In 1970, the park hosted Chicago's first Gay Pride March, showing its role as a place for diverse groups to gather and express themselves.
Washington Square Historic District
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Washington Square Historic District
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Location in Chicago metropolitan area
Location in Illinois
Location in the United States
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| Location | Washington Square, N. Dearborn St., from W. Walton St. to W. Chicago Ave., Chicago, Illinois |
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| Built | 1842 |
| Architect | Cobb, Henry Ives; et al. |
| Architectural style | Italianate, Queen Anne |
| MPS | Land Subdivisions with Set-Aside Parks, Chicago, IL MPS |
| NRHP reference No. | 03000786 |
| Added to NRHP | August 21, 2003 |
The Washington Square Historic District is a special area in Chicago, Illinois that includes Washington Square Park. A historic district means that a group of buildings or an area is important to history and should be protected. This district was added to the National Register of Historic Places on August 21, 2003.
The Washington Square District was also named a Chicago Landmark on May 16, 1990. This first landmark area included the park, the Newberry Library, and several other buildings nearby. Over the years, the landmark district grew to include more historic buildings on nearby streets. The National Register of Historic Places listing for the district covers Washington Square Park and North Dearborn Street from West Walton Street to West Chicago Avenue.
Washington Square Park Today
Every July, the Bughouse Square Committee, along with the Newberry Library, holds the annual Bughouse Square Debates. This event is a free speech gathering, just like the old days! It's part of a yearly festival that brings back the exciting atmosphere of speeches and debates that once filled the park.
Alderman McCormick's original fountain was removed in the 1970s. However, in the late 1990s, the park district, the city, and local groups worked together to restore Washington Square. Now, the park has a rebuilt historic fountain, old-style lighting, new fencing, and fresh plants. In the western part of the park, there is a special memorial tablet. It proudly calls the park "Chicago's Premier Free Speech Forum," celebrating its unique history.
Other Interesting Places Nearby
- Jack Jones's Dill Pickle Club, which was like an indoor version of Bughouse Square.
- Washington Park forum, also known as the Bug Club, another place for public discussions.
