Urgent Request from Chicago's Hyde Park Historical Society
SAVE THE POINT
The Hyde Park Historical Society has joined with the Community Task Force for Promontory Point in the effort to find a solution to its structural problems that will be more in keeping with its historic design than that proposed by the Army Corps of Engineers. More information about saving the Point.

The Hyde Park Historical Society Is not connected to the Chicago Park District and does not have information about events at the Promontory Point Park. Arrangements can be made for events at the Point by contacting the Chicago Park District, Jackson Park Field House 6401 S. Stony Island Avenue Chicago, IL 60637 Promontory Point Park 5491 South Shore Drive Promontory Point is an historic landscape and the focal point of Chicago's Burnham Park at the Eastern boundary of Hyde Park. "The Point" was created by landfill in the 1920's and landscaped in 1937 by Alfred Caldwell in the Prairie school tradition. Caldwell began by adding soil to the Promontory, raising the meadow to its present height and creating a hill where a shelter would be built. By summer of 1936 water and sewer pipes had been laid and the underpass below Leif Ericson Drive (Lake Shore Drive) was complete. Construction of the fieldhouse was started in 1936 and was finished the following year. The walls of the building were made of a stone called Lannon which was quarried in Wisconsin. "The Point" was opened to the public in 1937 after Caldwell felt that the plantings were complete and perfect. Today "The Point" gets plenty of use from cyclists, joggers, picnickers and swimmers. The Chicago park district and the public realize the place of Promontory Point in Chicago's past and are working together to restore it for future generations.

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