Lowden State Park
Encyclopedia
Lowden State Park is an Illinois state park on 207 acres (83.8 ha) in Ogle County
, Illinois
, United States
. The park was named after Governor Frank Orren Lowden
. Governor Lowden had served Illinois during World War I
. Lowden State Park is home to the Black Hawk Statue
, by artist Lorado Taft
. Lowden State Park was closed to the public due to budget cuts from November 30, 2008 until February 26, 2009.
. The Galena-Platteville Aquifer's spring water in the area travels south from Platteville
and Glenwood, Wisconsin
through layers of rocks into northern Illinois. Native Americans inhabited the region prior to European settlement and they kept the trees burnt off the stone bluffs to keep their roots from splitting the rock. When the earliest European settlers arrived they found groves of trees in the hollows, ravines, and lowlands near the river, which was where they built their first homes.
Chicago attorney and patron of the arts Wallace Heckman purchased the land that would eventually become the Eagle's Nest Colony and Lowden State Park in 1898. American sculptor Lorado Taft
and his peers were searching for a location for their summer retreat, first locating in Bass Lake, Indiana
and then looking toward Wisconsin
, but Heckman invited the group to his home in Ogle County for the Fourth of July. Heckman offered to let the group set up camp there and they signed a lease for the site the same week. The Eagle's Nest Art Colony was then founded in 1898 by Taft on the bluffs flanking the east bank of the Rock River, overlooking Oregon, Illinois. The colony was populated by Chicago artists, all members of the Chicago Art Institute or the University of Chicago
art department. The colony remained at the site from its founding until 1942, six years after Taft's death.
Lowden State Park was founded in 1945, a few years after the Eagle's Nest Art Colony vacated the land. In 1943, a year after former Illinois Governor Frank Lowden died, the Illinois House of Representatives
Appreciation Committee authorized the purchase of 273 acres (110.5 ha) as a memorial to the former governor. The appropriation of $25,000 was matched by the citizens of Oregon, Illinois and the Illinois Department of Natural Resources
(IDNR) to help purchase the former Eagle's Nest Art Colony. The 63rd Illinois General Assembly
designated the 273 acres (110.5 ha) tract, including the former art colony, Lowden Memorial State Park in 1945.
On August 7, 1951 Illinois Governor Adlai E. Stevenson II signed a bill into law which transferred ownership of a 66 acres (26.7 ha) section of the park to Northern Illinois Teachers College, now Northern Illinois University
(NIU). The land encompassed the former Eagle's Nest Art Colony and its buildings, the Black Hawk Statue was not included in the land transfer. The area is now known as the NIU Lorado Taft Field Campus.
. After delay, which restored funding for some of the parks, a proposal to close seven state parks and a dozen state historic sites, including Lowden, went ahead on November 30, 2008. After the impeachment of Illinois Governor Blagojevich, new governor Pat Quinn reopened the closed state parks in February. In March 2009 Quinn announced he is committed to reopening the state historic sites by June 30, 2009.
The Black Hawk Statue, officially known as The Eternal Indian, was created by Lorado Taft
and John G. Prasuhn, beginning in 1908. Taft at first created smaller studies of what would become the statue. The statue itself was dedicated in 1911, Taft noted at the dedication that the statue seemed to have grown out of the ground. It stands on the ground that was once home to the Eagle's Nest Art Colony, which Taft founded in 1898. The statue stands 125 feet (38.1 m) above the Rock River, though its height only accounts for 48 feet (14.6 m) of that. Black Hawk weighs 536770 pounds (243.5 t) and is said to be the second largest concrete monolithic statue in the world. Taft said the statue was inspired by the Sac leader Black Hawk
, although it is not a likeness of the chief. Though never publicized at the time of construction, when funds were exhausted the park's namesake, Frank Lowden had stepped in to ensure the completion of Black Hawk was financially possible.
Aside from Taft's colossal statue the 207 acres (83.8 ha) park has scenic views of the Rock River beneath the bluffs. Picnic areas, drinking water and park stoves are among the amenities generally found in public state parks that are found at Lowden. Hiking is another activity available at the park, four miles (6 km) of "moderately difficult" trails wind through the natural features at Lowden. Campsites are available for individuals and groups. The sites have limited electricity, and access to a shower building and a sanitary dumping station. Camping permits must be obtained from IDNR staff at the park.
The Black Hawk Statue overlooks the scenic Rock River which flows through 34 miles (55 km) of Ogle County with an average mid-summer depth of three feet. Aquatic recreation at Lowden State Park is limited to fishing, water skiing
, and boating along the Rock River. The boat ramp at Lowden State Park is located about one mile (1.6 km) downstream from the monolithic statue. The park is just upstream from the Oregon Dam, which, like all dams along the Rock River, is dangerous to boaters because of the backwash
or hydraulic that forms below the dam.
Ogle County, Illinois
Ogle County is a county located in the U.S. state of Illinois. According to the 2010 census, it has a population of 53,497, which is an increase of 4.8% from 51,032 in 2000. Its county seat is Oregon, and its largest city is Rochelle...
, Illinois
Illinois
Illinois is the fifth-most populous state of the United States of America, and is often noted for being a microcosm of the entire country. With Chicago in the northeast, small industrial cities and great agricultural productivity in central and northern Illinois, and natural resources like coal,...
, United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
. The park was named after Governor Frank Orren Lowden
Frank Orren Lowden
Frank Orren Lowden was a Republican Party politician from Illinois, who served as the 25th Governor of Illinois and as a United States Representatives from Illinois...
. Governor Lowden had served Illinois during World War I
World War I
World War I , which was predominantly called the World War or the Great War from its occurrence until 1939, and the First World War or World War I thereafter, was a major war centred in Europe that began on 28 July 1914 and lasted until 11 November 1918...
. Lowden State Park is home to the Black Hawk Statue
Black Hawk Statue
The Black Hawk Statue, or The Eternal Indian, is a sculpture by Lorado Taft located in Lowden State Park which is near the city of Oregon, Illinois. The statue is perched over the Rock River on a 77 foot bluff overlooking the city.-History:...
, by artist Lorado Taft
Lorado Taft
Lorado Zadoc Taft was an American sculptor, writer and educator. Taft was born in Elmwood, Illinois in 1860 and died in his home studio in Chicago in 1936.-Early years and education:...
. Lowden State Park was closed to the public due to budget cuts from November 30, 2008 until February 26, 2009.
History
425 million years ago the Trenton Sea formed the rock base of the area around Lowden State Park, stretching north into WisconsinWisconsin
Wisconsin is a U.S. state located in the north-central United States and is part of the Midwest. It is bordered by Minnesota to the west, Iowa to the southwest, Illinois to the south, Lake Michigan to the east, Michigan to the northeast, and Lake Superior to the north. Wisconsin's capital is...
. The Galena-Platteville Aquifer's spring water in the area travels south from Platteville
Platteville, Wisconsin
Platteville is the largest city in Grant County in southwestern Wisconsin. The population was 11,224 at the 2010 census, growing 12% since the 2000 Census. Much of this growth is likely due to the enrollment increase of the University of Wisconsin–Platteville...
and Glenwood, Wisconsin
Glenwood, Wisconsin
Glenwood is a town in St. Croix County, Wisconsin, United States. The population was 755 at the 2000 census. The unincorporated community of Emerald is located partially in the town.-Geography:...
through layers of rocks into northern Illinois. Native Americans inhabited the region prior to European settlement and they kept the trees burnt off the stone bluffs to keep their roots from splitting the rock. When the earliest European settlers arrived they found groves of trees in the hollows, ravines, and lowlands near the river, which was where they built their first homes.
Chicago attorney and patron of the arts Wallace Heckman purchased the land that would eventually become the Eagle's Nest Colony and Lowden State Park in 1898. American sculptor Lorado Taft
Lorado Taft
Lorado Zadoc Taft was an American sculptor, writer and educator. Taft was born in Elmwood, Illinois in 1860 and died in his home studio in Chicago in 1936.-Early years and education:...
and his peers were searching for a location for their summer retreat, first locating in Bass Lake, Indiana
Bass Lake, Indiana
Bass Lake is a census-designated place in California and North Bend Townships, Starke County, Indiana, United States. The population was 1,249 at the 2000 census...
and then looking toward Wisconsin
Wisconsin
Wisconsin is a U.S. state located in the north-central United States and is part of the Midwest. It is bordered by Minnesota to the west, Iowa to the southwest, Illinois to the south, Lake Michigan to the east, Michigan to the northeast, and Lake Superior to the north. Wisconsin's capital is...
, but Heckman invited the group to his home in Ogle County for the Fourth of July. Heckman offered to let the group set up camp there and they signed a lease for the site the same week. The Eagle's Nest Art Colony was then founded in 1898 by Taft on the bluffs flanking the east bank of the Rock River, overlooking Oregon, Illinois. The colony was populated by Chicago artists, all members of the Chicago Art Institute or the University of Chicago
University of Chicago
The University of Chicago is a private research university in Chicago, Illinois, USA. It was founded by the American Baptist Education Society with a donation from oil magnate and philanthropist John D. Rockefeller and incorporated in 1890...
art department. The colony remained at the site from its founding until 1942, six years after Taft's death.
Illinois House of Representatives
The Illinois House of Representatives is the lower house of the Illinois General Assembly, the state legislature of the U.S. state of Illinois. The body was created by the first Illinois Constitution adopted in 1818. The state House of Representatives is made of 118 representatives elected from...
Appreciation Committee authorized the purchase of 273 acres (110.5 ha) as a memorial to the former governor. The appropriation of $25,000 was matched by the citizens of Oregon, Illinois and the Illinois Department of Natural Resources
Illinois Department of Natural Resources
The Illinois Department of Natural Resources is a cabinet-level department of the state government of Illinois. It is headquartered in the state capital of Springfield...
(IDNR) to help purchase the former Eagle's Nest Art Colony. The 63rd Illinois General Assembly
Illinois General Assembly
The Illinois General Assembly is the state legislature of the U.S. state of Illinois and comprises the Illinois House of Representatives and the Illinois Senate. The General Assembly was created by the first state constitution adopted in 1818. Illinois has 59 legislative districts, with two...
designated the 273 acres (110.5 ha) tract, including the former art colony, Lowden Memorial State Park in 1945.
On August 7, 1951 Illinois Governor Adlai E. Stevenson II signed a bill into law which transferred ownership of a 66 acres (26.7 ha) section of the park to Northern Illinois Teachers College, now Northern Illinois University
Northern Illinois University
Northern Illinois University is a state university and research institution located in DeKalb, Illinois, with satellite centers in Hoffman Estates, Naperville, Rockford, and Oregon. It was originally founded as Northern Illinois State Normal School on May 22, 1895 by Illinois Governor John P...
(NIU). The land encompassed the former Eagle's Nest Art Colony and its buildings, the Black Hawk Statue was not included in the land transfer. The area is now known as the NIU Lorado Taft Field Campus.
2008 closing
Lowden State Park was one of eleven state parks slated to close indefinitely on November 1, 2008 due to budget cuts by former Illinois governor Rod BlagojevichRod Blagojevich
Rod R. Blagojevich is an American politician who served as the 40th Governor of Illinois from 2003 to 2009. A Democrat, Blagojevich was a State Representative before being elected to the United States House of Representatives representing parts of Chicago...
. After delay, which restored funding for some of the parks, a proposal to close seven state parks and a dozen state historic sites, including Lowden, went ahead on November 30, 2008. After the impeachment of Illinois Governor Blagojevich, new governor Pat Quinn reopened the closed state parks in February. In March 2009 Quinn announced he is committed to reopening the state historic sites by June 30, 2009.
Black Hawk Statue
The Black Hawk Statue, officially known as The Eternal Indian, was created by Lorado Taft
Lorado Taft
Lorado Zadoc Taft was an American sculptor, writer and educator. Taft was born in Elmwood, Illinois in 1860 and died in his home studio in Chicago in 1936.-Early years and education:...
and John G. Prasuhn, beginning in 1908. Taft at first created smaller studies of what would become the statue. The statue itself was dedicated in 1911, Taft noted at the dedication that the statue seemed to have grown out of the ground. It stands on the ground that was once home to the Eagle's Nest Art Colony, which Taft founded in 1898. The statue stands 125 feet (38.1 m) above the Rock River, though its height only accounts for 48 feet (14.6 m) of that. Black Hawk weighs 536770 pounds (243.5 t) and is said to be the second largest concrete monolithic statue in the world. Taft said the statue was inspired by the Sac leader Black Hawk
Black Hawk (chief)
Black Hawk was a leader and warrior of the Sauk American Indian tribe in what is now the United States. Although he had inherited an important historic medicine bundle, he was not one of the Sauk's hereditary civil chiefs...
, although it is not a likeness of the chief. Though never publicized at the time of construction, when funds were exhausted the park's namesake, Frank Lowden had stepped in to ensure the completion of Black Hawk was financially possible.
Activities
The Black Hawk Statue overlooks the scenic Rock River which flows through 34 miles (55 km) of Ogle County with an average mid-summer depth of three feet. Aquatic recreation at Lowden State Park is limited to fishing, water skiing
Water skiing
thumb|right|A slalom skier making a turn on a slalom waterski.Waterskiing is a sport where an individual is pulled behind a boat or a cable ski installation on a body of water, skimming the surface.-History:...
, and boating along the Rock River. The boat ramp at Lowden State Park is located about one mile (1.6 km) downstream from the monolithic statue. The park is just upstream from the Oregon Dam, which, like all dams along the Rock River, is dangerous to boaters because of the backwash
Backwash (physical phenomenon)
In terms of water treatment, including water purification and sewage treatment, backwash refers to the reversal pumping of water, and sometimes intermittent with compressed air, through the process. The filters used in water treatment can be of many types, including rapid sand filters, pressure...
or hydraulic that forms below the dam.