Illinois is known as the the Land of Lincoln. But had this man's debates with Honest Abe gone differently, perhaps we would be in the Land of Douglas. Douglas was an influential politician who assumed celebrity status during the Lincoln debates. His sarcophagus pays homage to his political life. Constructed of white marble from his home state of Vermont, the tomb is topped by a 46-foot (14 meter) column supporting a 10-foot (3 meter) statue of this historical figure.
Chicago's Eckhart Park is so much more than just an open space. Equipped with baseball diamonds, an athletic field, an indoor pool, a playground and a garden, the park offers visitors a much needed opportunity to engage themselves and their families in fun, wholesome and healthy activities. Fun-filled events, therapeutic recreational programs, day camps, seasonal sports and swimming lessons are also organized at Eckhart Park. The park was established in 1907 and was envisaged as a breathing space that would also provide valuable social services for the betterment of the community as a whole. Today, Eckhart Park is a place where you will find joyful laughter and happy faces all around.
Before Lincoln Park was a park, it was one of the city's largest cemeteries. Most of the graves were relocated, although construction crews occasionally turn up a body or two. One family refused to move its patron, the tailor Ira Couch, from the grounds. They won a lawsuit against the city and Ira Couch's resting place remained unmoved. As part of the lawsuit, no one is allowed inside the mausoleum. Whether or not Couch is inside, is a mystery that has puzzled generations of Chicagoans. Stop by when you visit the Chicago Historical Society.