Milwaukee, Wisconsin
About Lake Park
Located along the shores of Lake Michigan, the 138-acre Lake Park features rustic bridges, winding paths, waterfalls, lake bluffs and natural ravines. Olmsted designed the park around the North Point Lighthouse, a steel-and-iron edifice that helped guide ships on Lake Michigan. The lighthouse has since been refurbished and opened as a museum.
Lake Park is one of three Olmsted-designed parks in the city of Milwaukee, joining Riverside Park and Washington Park. Of the three parks, Lake Park most closely retains its original form and intent.
In 1993, Lake Park was placed on the National Register of Historic Places for its connection to Olmsted and its culturally significant Indian mounds. This recognition, along with the park’s centennial celebration, spurred the creation of Lake Park Friends, which continues to promote the preservation, enjoyment and enhancement of Lake Park in the spirit of Olmsted.
Today, recognized park features— such as the pavilion (1903), Ravine Road Footbridge (1905) and grand staircase (1907)— have been added to Olmsted’s original design.
Ravine at Lake Park. Photo by Eddee Daniel.
General Plan of Lake Park. Plan 01653-79. 01/1895. Courtesy of FLOHNS.
Grading plan of concert hall. Plan 01653-53. 10/20/1893. Courtesy of FLOHNS.
Grand Staircase in snow. Photo by Virginia Small.
Paved trail at Lake Park. Photo by Virginia Small.
Bridge and trees at Lake Park. Photo by Philip Schultz.
Plan for entrance junction at Lake Park. Plan 01653-73. 1895. Courtesy of FLOHNS.
Shared Spaces
Spotlight on … Lake Park-
Parks & Public SpacesMilwaukee River Greenway Builds Upon Olmsted’s Legacies
A new book highlights part of Frederick Law Olmsted’s legacy in Milwaukee. Riverside Park was one of three parks he... -
SpotlightsSpotlight on … Lake Park
When Milwaukee Parks Commissioner Christian Wahl recruited Frederick Law Olmsted to design three parks for the city, the great landscape... -
Olmsted 200FLO Honored with Street Namings in NY and WI
Throughout 2022, Olmsted 200 has been tracking the ways people are celebrating Frederick Law Olmsted’s bicentennial. From Olmsted-inspired painting and music compositions to record-breaking events held... -
SpotlightsSpotlight on…Washington Park in Milwaukee, WI
While Frederick Law Olmsted was in Chicago overseeing landscape design for the 1893 World’s Columbian Exhibition, the nascent City of... -
Conferences & EventsRecap: The Olmsteds in Wisconsin
From September 20-22, 2023, the Olmsted Network took to Wisconsin for three-days of memorable lectures, panels, tours and dinners. The...
Jackson Park
Built in 1871, the Jackson Park landscape today—including lagoons, historic bridges, winding paths and the Wooded Island—still reflects Olmsted’s early vision.