Location:
South of Museum of Science and Industry (5700 S DuSable Lake Shore Dr.)
Chicago, IL 60649
Located Within:
Jackson (Andrew) Park
Features:
Lagoon, Prairie, Wetland
Hours Notes
Natural areas are open from dawn to dusk daily.
Description
Jackson Park's Columbia Basin is a great destination for fishing, birding, and fantastic scenic views. This ten-acre natural area features aquatic, wetland, and prairie edge habitats. It is located immediately south of the Museum of Science and Industry. The area is known for the ornamental cherry trees that surround the lagoon, which bloom each spring. Explore the site from the flagstone outcroppings or the publicly accessible overlook on the south side of the museum. Commonly observed flora and fauna include wood ducks, purple martins, great blue herons, cardinal flower, swamp rose mallow, and the abundant white water lilies that cover the pond and flower in summer.
In addition to maintenance conducted by the park district, Columbia Basin benefits from the dedication and hard work of volunteers who collect and scatter native seed, plant native species, pick up trash, monitor vegetation, and remove invasive species. Learn more about volunteer opportunities by visiting our Community Stewardship Program page.
Help keep wildlife wild, safe, and healthy by following posted signage and Natural Areas Rules and Regulations. For questions regarding Chicago Park District Natural Areas, email nature@chicagoparkdistrict.com.
History
A remnant from famed landscape architect designer Frederick Law Olmsted's design for Jackson Park as part of the South Parks system and the 1893 World Columbian Exposition, the Columbia Basin was once a part of the interconnected waterways that linked Lake Michigan near 63rd Street through the Court of Honor, Wooded Island lagoons and to what was then, the front steps of the Palace of Fine Arts during the fair. The basin is still connected to the Wooded Island lagoons under the Clarence Darrow Bridge to the south.
Map & Facilities
Jackson Park - Columbia Basin
South of Museum of Science and Industry (5700 S DuSable Lake Shore Dr.)
Chicago, IL 60649
United States
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