Sketches in the Chicago Parks

Chicago’s parks on the eve of the World’s Fair.

This beautiful collection of woodcut views was based on artwork drawn originally by W.A. Rogers and published in a June 6, 1891 supplement to Harper’s Weekly. A collage of eleven different scenes highlights the beauty and diversity of Chicago’s park system, one of the best in the world at the time of publication.

Families enjoying a bit of shade are captioned as ‘thoroughly at home in Washington Park.’ Well-dressed visitors to the Lincoln Park Zoo drop treats in the bear pit, while men fish and ladies enjoy a leisurely boat ride on the lake. At the bottom of the page, a visitor stares reverently at the statue of Abraham Lincoln.

A picnic scene in Garfield Park highlights how elaborate these family outings could be, especially in the cases of immigrant populations in the immediate suburbs. Descriptive text on the verso by Clarence Pullen provides additional contemporary details on ‘The Parks and Parkways of Chicago.’