Grant Park: The Evolution of Chicago's Front Yard

Not long after the city of Chicago was founded in the 1830s, land was set aside for a public park on the lakefront. This book focuses on how people changed this public land from an often unsightly neighborhood park into a landscape of regional, national, and international significance. The transformation of the park did not take place quickly or easily, and the current appearance has been the result of a great number of plans, efforts, court battles, and compromises. By "reading" the physical landscape of the park and its monuments, it is possible to gain insight into the cultural history and values of the Chicago community.