Washington Park Bandshell LbNA #75516
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Add Location| Owner: | fox_and_cat  |
|---|---|
| Plant date: | May 16, 2021 |
| Location: | 1859 N 40th St |
| City: | Milwaukee |
| County: | Milwaukee |
| State: | Wisconsin |
| Boxes: | 1 |
| Found by: | Guinea Pigs |
|---|---|
| Last found: | May 24, 2021 |
| Status: | FF |
| Last edited: | May 17, 2021 |
Washington Park in Milwaukee, WI, was designed in 1891 by Frederick Law Olmsted, who designed New York’s Central Park as well as Milwaukee’s Lake Park and Riverside Park. Olmsted believed planned parks would provide people from all stations of life respite from the crowding, suffocation and industrial despondency of urban America in the last half of the 19th century. He contended that municipal open aspaces with scenic landscapes and recreational activities would promote both the physical and mental health of its visitors and foster communication between social classes, thereby improving society.
The 124 acre park included open meadows, wooded areas containing a variety of tree species, a seven-acre lake and an aquatic garden that featured a four-level heated waterfall, a lily pond, exotic fish, stone bridges and walking paths. But eventually the use of the park veered from Olmsted’s original design to include the Washington Park Zoo (which eventually moved to become the current Milwaukee County Zoo), a horse track, a toboggan hill with grandstand seating, a small golf course, and a bandshell. These days, Washington Park is still home to the original lake, bridges, and walking paths as well as the bandshell and a branch of the Urban Ecology Center.
To begin your search, drive to Washington Park. Park on Washington Blvd near Picnic Area 2. You will see a crosswalk on the road near Picnic Area 2. Walk on the path that connects to that crosswalk, keeping Picnic Area 2 on your left. You’ll see the white arch that is the top of the bandshell. Follow the path to the bandshell.
The Art Deco-style curved band shell was designed by Milwaukee architect Fitzhugh Scott and dedicated in 1938. Short thick columns on each side of the bandshell are adorned with Greek muses. The names of some 45 composers are etched on the back of the concrete shell. The "Music Under the Stars" concerts, lasting 50 years, were often broadcast nationally over the radio. Crowds of more than 10,000 plus regularly attended.
Over time, not much had been done to improve and maintain the shell, but in 2005, Harley Davidson, the longstanding motorcycle manufacturing company and nearby neighbor, donated substantial funds for this and in 2006, improvements of the bench seating was scheduled. The Milwaukee County committed to renovating the bandshell with $738,000 in the 2016 budget, including the stage and ventilation system as well as new paint and lights.
In recent years, some 300 to 1,000 neighbors regularly stream in on Washington Park Wednesdays, Saturday evenings to hear local artists and bands play jazz and on Sunday to enjoy blues. Seating can accommodate up to 8,000. Neighborhood groups and others, such as local radio stations, help cover the costs and there is no charge to attend. In addition to musical programs, the county parks department has initiated movies nights.
--https://www.wibandshellsandstands.com/milwaukee-washington-park.html
Walk to the front of the bandshell and notice the rows of benches. To find the letterbox, you may find it helpful to note the number of benches for future reference.
Walk around the building until you find the wall of composers. Fun fact - one of these names is a 19th century composer of Hansel and Gretel who also shares a name with a 20th century singer of easy listening favorites who was popular with the ladies and in Las Vegas in the 1970's and 1980's. That 20th century singer's birth year will come in handy in a little while.
Looking again at the wall of composers, label the columns A-B-C and the rows 1 through 15.
Use the following coordinates to find the letters to form a phrase, then rearrange it to make a new phrase that describes the bandshell.
B-5-9 C-12-10 A-1-13 B-8-6 C-7-8 C-4-4 B-15-3 A-15-1 B-3-3 A-7-1 C-14-4 A-4-4 B-9-5
Circle the bandshell to find that description.
Once you've found it, stand in front of it on the pavement and take a bearing equal to the number of benches you counted earlier. Take the last two digits of the singer's birth year you found earlier and walk that number of steps until you reach a tree.
From that spot, you’ll see three trees to the southwest with a center V that frames a large object in the distance. Walk to that object.
On that object, you will find the words “World Citizen”. Directly to the left of those words, reach down and find the Washington Park Bandshell box.
Hike length: 0.5 miles
The 124 acre park included open meadows, wooded areas containing a variety of tree species, a seven-acre lake and an aquatic garden that featured a four-level heated waterfall, a lily pond, exotic fish, stone bridges and walking paths. But eventually the use of the park veered from Olmsted’s original design to include the Washington Park Zoo (which eventually moved to become the current Milwaukee County Zoo), a horse track, a toboggan hill with grandstand seating, a small golf course, and a bandshell. These days, Washington Park is still home to the original lake, bridges, and walking paths as well as the bandshell and a branch of the Urban Ecology Center.
To begin your search, drive to Washington Park. Park on Washington Blvd near Picnic Area 2. You will see a crosswalk on the road near Picnic Area 2. Walk on the path that connects to that crosswalk, keeping Picnic Area 2 on your left. You’ll see the white arch that is the top of the bandshell. Follow the path to the bandshell.
The Art Deco-style curved band shell was designed by Milwaukee architect Fitzhugh Scott and dedicated in 1938. Short thick columns on each side of the bandshell are adorned with Greek muses. The names of some 45 composers are etched on the back of the concrete shell. The "Music Under the Stars" concerts, lasting 50 years, were often broadcast nationally over the radio. Crowds of more than 10,000 plus regularly attended.
Over time, not much had been done to improve and maintain the shell, but in 2005, Harley Davidson, the longstanding motorcycle manufacturing company and nearby neighbor, donated substantial funds for this and in 2006, improvements of the bench seating was scheduled. The Milwaukee County committed to renovating the bandshell with $738,000 in the 2016 budget, including the stage and ventilation system as well as new paint and lights.
In recent years, some 300 to 1,000 neighbors regularly stream in on Washington Park Wednesdays, Saturday evenings to hear local artists and bands play jazz and on Sunday to enjoy blues. Seating can accommodate up to 8,000. Neighborhood groups and others, such as local radio stations, help cover the costs and there is no charge to attend. In addition to musical programs, the county parks department has initiated movies nights.
--https://www.wibandshellsandstands.com/milwaukee-washington-park.html
Walk to the front of the bandshell and notice the rows of benches. To find the letterbox, you may find it helpful to note the number of benches for future reference.
Walk around the building until you find the wall of composers. Fun fact - one of these names is a 19th century composer of Hansel and Gretel who also shares a name with a 20th century singer of easy listening favorites who was popular with the ladies and in Las Vegas in the 1970's and 1980's. That 20th century singer's birth year will come in handy in a little while.
Looking again at the wall of composers, label the columns A-B-C and the rows 1 through 15.
Use the following coordinates to find the letters to form a phrase, then rearrange it to make a new phrase that describes the bandshell.
B-5-9 C-12-10 A-1-13 B-8-6 C-7-8 C-4-4 B-15-3 A-15-1 B-3-3 A-7-1 C-14-4 A-4-4 B-9-5
Circle the bandshell to find that description.
Once you've found it, stand in front of it on the pavement and take a bearing equal to the number of benches you counted earlier. Take the last two digits of the singer's birth year you found earlier and walk that number of steps until you reach a tree.
From that spot, you’ll see three trees to the southwest with a center V that frames a large object in the distance. Walk to that object.
On that object, you will find the words “World Citizen”. Directly to the left of those words, reach down and find the Washington Park Bandshell box.
Hike length: 0.5 miles