Lincoln Memorial Garden and Nature Center

Envisioned by Harriet Knudson in 1936, Lincoln Memorial Garden was created as a living memorial to Abraham Lincoln, representing “the landscape … Lincoln would have known growing up and living in the Midwest.”

The 100-acre garden on the banks of Lake Springfield, designed by famed landscape architect Jens Jensen, features a wide range of native trees and plants accessible by meandering paths and eight “council rings,”  stone seating areas that invite visitors to relax and contemplate their surroundings. There is also a Nature Center and Split Rail Gift Shop.

The collection includes materials related to the operation of Lincoln Memorial Garden-correspondence, grounds notebook, committee reports, and maintenance plans, Administrators reports, Annual reports and meeting minutes, treasurers reports and financial records, photos, history and bylaws, newspaper clippings, event calendars, and items related Harriet Knudson and garden development.