Is it possible to capture the essence of a legend in bronze? Here at Senn Park, the Young Lincoln Statue attempts just that. This isn’t the Lincoln you might picture from history books, the weary president etched with the weight of a nation. This sculpture, a gift from the estate of Charles Keck, depicts a youthful, even barefoot Lincoln. He sits upon a tree stump, seemingly lost in thought, a book resting on his lap. The Young Lincoln Statue has had an interesting journey of its own. It was first housed in the grand Chicago Public Library, then part of the Civil War museum within those halls. However, in 1997, it found a new home here in Senn Park. This relocation wasn’t arbitrary. Local lore claimed Lincoln, during his 1860 presidential campaign, delivered a speech at a nearby stagecoach post-house. This tale, however, is likely just that: a tale. Even so, the Young Lincoln Statue, with its air of contemplation and promise, seems fittingly placed. It serves as a reminder of the potential that resides in every individual, the very potential Lincoln himself embodied.
Private Florian S. Jacolik Plaque
The Private Florian S. Jacolik Plaque stands in a small park, a quiet oasis in the bustling city of Chicago.