Among those who statues preside over the park are: Abraham Lincoln, Ulysses S. Grant, Robert de La Salle, John Peter Altged, General Philip Sheridan, William Shakespeare, and Johann von Goethe. The celebrated sculptors and architects involved include Augustus Saint-Gaudens and Stanford White.
Our tour guide is Krista August, who will discuss the stories and history behind each portrait statue, the monuments than have gone missing, and salient park and city history. For seven years Ms. August volunteered for the Chicago Architecture Foundation and led walking tours of the city's historic and modern skyscrapers. She is a member of the Chicago Tour-Guide Professionals Association.
Ms. August's book, Giants in the Park, was named a Book of the Year by the Chicago Writers Association and recognized with a Certificate of Excellence by the Illinois State Historical Society. Rick Kogan of WGN radio called Giants in the Park, "an essential item for any Chicago lover's bookshelf."
Part 2 will continue the tour and take place on July 14.
