This vintage postcard reads: "Washington Park, Chicago, Conservatory and Flowerbeds. Oldest South Side park, area 371 acres."
This vintage postcard reads: "Washington park, Lagoon, Chicago."
This vintage postcard reads: "Boat House, Washington Park, Chicago."
This vintage postcard reads: "Lincoln Park Conservatory."
This vintage postcard reads: "Lincoln Park Conservatory, Chicago ILL" I believe this postcard and the postcard above depict the same greenhouse in the conservatory, but from slightly different angles.
This vintage postcard reads: "Lincoln Park, Conservatory, Chicago." Based on the two postcards above, I think this one shows the same greenhouse in the Lincoln Park Conservatory but from the opposite direction.
This vintage postcard reads: "Interior Garfield Park Conservatory, Chicago,Ill."
Unfortunately, the conservatory in Washington Park no longer stands because it was demolished in the 1930s after falling in disrepair. Today you can still visit the Garfield Park and Lincoln Park conservatories if you live in Chicago or just come to visit. They're free and open to the public and I can't recommend visiting them enough.
It's interesting to see Chicago parks depicted in these vintage postcards because they give us a glimpse into the past when the appreciation and maintenance of these green and public spaces was at their all time high. It's also interesting to see how horticultural tastes have evolved from the days when plants were appreciated by being potted up and raised up the eye level of the visitors. If you visit today, you'll notice that the plantings are more natural and reflect Jens Jensen's approach to interior landscaping. Walking through our conservatories feels a lot like taking a stroll through giant terrariums.
Learn more about the history of Chicago's parks in Inspired by Nature: The Garfield Park Conservatory and Chicago's West Side
and The City in a Garden: A History of Chicago's Parks, Second Edition (Center for American Places - Center Books on American Places)
Have you visited the Garfield Park and Lincoln Park Conservatory before?
Thank you for sharing "old Chicago" a nice treat. I'll have to put that on my to do list ASAP.
ReplyDeleteHope you do, Renata.
DeleteI just love these, been to Garfield Park Conservatory but not Lincoln Park.
ReplyDeleteEileen
Eileen, you need to change that. I recommend going to the Lincoln Park Conservatory during the Christmas season when the model trains are up and running. :0)
DeleteWould love to visit Garfield Park!
ReplyDeleteThis post struck me because I bought my grandparents house who sadly passed several years back and stumbled upon lots of old postcards that they had saved from many, many years ago from Russia, where they lived until they immigrated to the U.S. It was fascinating to see these old shots (looked more like photographs) and to see what they sentimentalized.
If you are ever in Chicago, Laura, the Garfield Park Conservatory is a quick train ride from downtown. Aren't old postcards the best? I recently took a trip and was so disappointed with the quality of art and creativity in modern post cards.
DeleteSo cool! It's a shame about Washington Park, the building looked really neat. Is the lake still in use?
ReplyDeleteGarden Broad, yeah, the park itself is still in use. It is just the greenhouse/conservatory that is gone. It looked like a beautiful thing to behold.
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