Alfred Caldwell Lily Pool

Alfred Caldwell Lily Pool
Chicago Landmark
Location Fullerton Parkway between Cannon and Stockton Drives in Lincoln Park, Chicago, IL
Architect Alfred Caldwell
Governing body Local
NRHP Reference # 06000235[1]
Significant dates
Added to NRHP February 17, 2006
Designated NHL February 17, 2006
Designated CL November 6, 2002

Alfred Caldwell Lily Pool, also known as Lincoln Park Lily Pool, is an example of Prairie School landscape architecture designed by Alfred Caldwell and located at 125 W. Fullerton Parkway (between Stockton and Cannon Drives) in Lincoln Park, Chicago, Illinois. It was designated a Chicago Landmark on November 6, 2002.[2] It was listed on the National Register of Historic Places and as a National Historic Landmark on February 17, 2006.[3]

The lily pool had originally been built to cultivate tropical water lilies in 1889.[4] In the 1930s, landscape architect Alfred Caldwell was hired by the Works Progress Administration to redesign the pool.[5] He cashed in his life insurance policy and raised additional funds to realize his vision. Later for a time, the pool was used by the Zoo as a waterfowl rookery, and came to be known as The Rookery. From 1998-2002, the Lily Pool underwent a major restoration by the Chicago Park District and the Lincoln Park Conservancy.

The Lily Pool's main gate is on the south side of Fullerton Parkway between Stockton and Cannon Drives (125 W Fullerton Parkway). An accessible entrance and parking space is located at the Lily Pool's east entrance on Cannon Drive. Parking is available at the Lincoln Park Conservatory self-park lot located directly behind the Conservatory; enter on Stockton Drive just south of Fullerton.

The Lily Pool is open seasonally from mid-April to mid-November from 7:30 a.m. to the earlier of dusk or 7:30 p.m. It is maintained by the Chicago Park District and Lincoln Park Conservancy.

Free docent tours are available from May to October from 1-4 p.m. Fridays, Saturday, and Sundays, and from 9 - Noon on Saturdays.

Gallery
Alternate view in August 2010 
May 2007 
October 2010 
Pool in Fall 2010 

See also

Notes

  1. ↑ "National Register Information System". National Register of Historic Places. National Park Service. 2007-01-23.
  2. ↑ "Alfred Caldwell Lily Pool". City of Chicago Department of Planning and Development, Landmarks Division. 2003. Retrieved 2010-06-16.
  3. ↑ "Lincoln Park Lily Pool". National Park Service. Retrieved 2007-05-10.
  4. ↑ "Lincoln Park Alfred Caldwell Lily Pool". Chicago Park District. 2006. Archived from the original on 5 May 2007. Retrieved 2007-05-10.
  5. ↑ Mark Rosenthal, et al., Ark in the Park (University of Illinois, 2003) p. 66.

Coordinates: 41°55′31″N 87°38′03″W / 41.9253°N 87.6341°W