The Lincoln Memorial Garden is a self-governing 100-acre woodland and prairie garden owned by the city of Springfield, Illinois and managed by the Abraham Lincoln Memorial Garden Foundation. The gardens are made up of two major units, the 63acre Jensen section bordering Lake Springfield, and the newer 29acre Ostermeier Prairie Center section. There are also of additional buffer properties. As of April 2006, the Garden is maintained by a full-time staff of 4 men and women, supplemented by more than 150 volunteers and docents.Our Springfield online visit planner makes visiting Lincoln Memorial Garden and other Springfield attractions simple, and helps you make a travel plan personal to you.
The Abraham Lincoln Memorial Garden is the inspiration of Springfield leader Harriet Knudson. When Knudson learned that the city of Springfield was acquiring land for the basin of a new reservoir, intended to serve as a source of city drinking water, she asked the city to set aside approximately 0.6 miles of future shoreline as a garden to memorialize Abraham Lincoln. The city agreed and leased the Jensen section to Lincoln Memorial Garden in perpetuity. At the time of the lease, the future Garden site was cultivated farmland that contained approximately 12 trees.
As designer of the new garden, LMG selected Jens Jensen. A follower of the Prairie Style and its ideal of "organic architecture," Jensen designed the garden to reflect an idealized vision of the Midwestern woods and prairies. In his 1935 design, Jensen placed eight council rings, his design icon, throughout the Garden. These fire circles, built of Midwestern splitstone, are designed for groups of 12–50 people to sit together around an open fire. Most of the fire circles are situated to give all participants a view of Lake Springfield. By sitting in a fire circle, visitors have the opportunity to balance the four elements within themselves.
Source
Create a full itinerary - for free!
Lincoln Memorial Garden reviews
-
We loved walking the grounds. Saw some deer. Very relaxing afternoon. Not crowded. Got there too late for the visitors' center.
We loved walking the grounds. Saw some deer. Very relaxing afternoon. Not crowded. Got there too late for the visitors' center. more »
-
Nice park along The banks of Springfield lake. It’s a pleasant walk and fairly flat. Most of the trails have wood chips and Protection from the sun. A nice place to spend an hour and a half
Nice park along The banks of Springfield lake. It’s a pleasant walk and fairly flat. Most of the trails have wood chips and Protection from the sun. A nice place to spend an hour and a half more »
Plan your trip to Springfield
Get a personalized tripA full day by day itinerary based on your preferences Customize itRefine your trip. We'll find the
best routes and schedules Manage itEverything in one place. Everyone on the same page.Know more
Popular things to do in Springfield
Historic Sites in Springfield
Side trips from Springfield
Hidden gems in Springfield
Museums in Springfield
Trips in Lincoln Memorial Garden by other users
12 days in Great Lakes USA
BY A USER FROM UNITED STATES
Cleveland
Chicago
Springfield
24 days in United States
BY A USER FROM UNITED STATES
Chicago
Milwaukee
Minneapolis
4 days in Illinois
BY A USER FROM UNITED STATES
Bloomington
Springfield
Chicago
32 days in Great Lakes USA
BY A USER FROM THE NETHERLANDS
Minneapolis
Grand Rapids
Toledo
4 days in Springfield
BY A USER FROM UNITED STATES
Boat Tours & Water Sports
Rockcliffe Mansion (Tours)
Lincoln Memorial Garden
15 days in United States
BY A USER FROM UNITED STATES
Chicago
Milwaukee
Des Moines