Marathon Pundit: Fall colors at Fort Sheridan, part one

Thursday, October 04, 2012

Fall colors at Fort Sheridan, part one

I work near Fort Sheridan. The old military base, which is between the towns of Lake Forest, Highland Park, and Highwood, Illinois, is filled with old growth maples and oaks. And it's quite beautiful these days.

In the background is Lake Michigan.

Fort Sheridan was established on land donated by members of Chicago's Commercial Club in 1887. The Haymarket Riot unnerved the captains of industry. The fort is near what is now the Union Pacific train line--so troops could be dispatched quickly to the city if the need arose.

The fort is named for Civil War hero Phil Sheridan--who organized military relief efforts for the victims of the Chicago Fire.

At the beach cottonwoods are more common.

The first four photographs were taken at the southern end of Fort Sheridan. This photograph and the next one were taken on the northern end, which is part of the Lake County Forest Preserve District. That's a sugar maple.