Place

Lake Shore Country Club

Plan of golf course with trees on edges an in between some holes
Lake Shore Country Club, Job #03597, Glencoe, IL

Olmsted Archives

Quick Facts
Location:
Glencoe, IL
Significance:
Olmsted Designed Landscape
In 1908, with the idea of building a private place for spending leisure time, a group of prominent Chicago-area families joined together to purchase land in Glencoe, Illinois, about twenty-five miles north of Chicago. Glencoe was a rural village connected to Chicago by train, which made developing in the area attractive to those who desired a quiet place away from the city to relax, socialize, and enjoy the outdoors.

One year after that idea became a reality when 127 acres of mostly muddy scrubland was purchased. John Charles and Frederick Law Olmsted Jr. were hired to develop the property and worked with the architect to ensure didn’t obtrude onto the landscape but matched perfectly.

The Olmsted’s were heavily involved in the planting treatment of the overall property, and the intention of their design was to make visitors more conscious of their natural surroundings. The Clubhouse was built to maximize natural light, with large doors leading to an expansive terrace, with views of a vast lawn and Lake Michigan.

For references and more resources, please visit:
Olmsted Research Guide Online
Flickr
Olmsted Online
Lake Shore Country Club

Frederick Law Olmsted National Historic Site

Last updated: May 21, 2024