FOUNTAIN GARDEN (Phase II) — The historic Cantigny fountain will be recreated, providing a lively visual anchor at the center of the gardens behind the Visitors Center. From the fountain, a pathway will directly link visitors to the McCormick House Allée, Idea Garden and the new Prairie View landscape to the east.
PRAIRIE VIEW (Phase II) — Plans for the former Rose Garden site call for a wooden trellis and stone seat wall framing an open lawn. Looking east, visitors will enjoy an expanse of Illinois prairie grasses framed with native trees, styled after the work of Jens Jensen, the early 20th-century landscape architect. We expect Prairie View to be a tranquil resting spot and popular for wedding ceremonies.
OCTAGON GARDEN (Phase II) — A full renovation is in store for this 8-sided “garden room,” including new brick pavers, edging, furnishings and a vine trellis supporting flowering Clematis in the center. The Octagon garden will continue to feature rotating floral displays, changing each spring, summer and fall.
ROCK GARDEN (Phase II) — Expect a fresh new look, highlighted by the addition of crevices (left side above), ledges (right side) and an extensive gravel garden (not shown). These unusual elements—uncommon for the region—will widen Cantigny’s horticultural diversity.
LE JARDIN LAWN & PATIO (Phase II) — A new dining patio and event lawn, east of the Visitors Center, will supplement Le Jardin during large banquets and other events. The patio, also a day to day lunch venue, promises attractive views of the gardens and McCormick House beyond.
GREEN GARDEN (Phase II) — “Calm and restful” characterizes the plan for this serene garden room adjacent to the Octagon Garden. Plantings are simple and monochromatic, sharply contrasting with the colorful displays nearby—like the Keyhole Garden, a nice spot to relax.
FIRST DIVISION MEMORIALS (Phase II) — Five etched glass panels placed in the courtyard behind the First Division Museum will honor all 1st Infantry Division soldiers killed in combat.
FIRST DIVISION MEMORIALS (Phase II) — This digital rendering shows the planned placement of the five etched glass panels.
The renovated gardens will provide ample shade and seating in addition to the colorful seasonal plantings.
Just outside the Visitors Center, a spacious arrival plaza with perimeter seating will provide a central gathering place for guests.
The Lower Display Gardens will benefit from improved drainage, pathways and edging. All pavements, ramps and steps will comply with ADA standards for accessibility.
This aerial view depicts the future look of the gardens located north of the Cantigny Visitors Center, the chief focus of the project’s Phase 1. The McCormick House can be seen in the upper right corner.
In this sketch of the Ecological Pond Garden, notice the open parkland setting and how the McCormick House becomes more naturally connected to the surrounding landscape.
The Pond Garden features native wetland plants that add beauty while cleaning the water. Visitors will gain access to the water’s edge.
A key feature, scheduled for 2018, is the Oak Colonnade—parallel rows of trees extending from the front of the Visitors Center all the way south to the First Division Museum. The Colonnade will grow to be a dramatic and unifying landscape element for the park.
A relocated Rose Garden, near Le Jardin in the Visitors Center, will be a popular site for wedding ceremonies. The current Rose Garden will remain in place until the new rose bushes become established.
