Washington Square
Also known as: Bughouse Square; Park #1244
Why it's listed
Washington Square is a three-acre park on Chicago's near north side, set among residential streets just south of the Newberry Library. Land speculators James Fitch, Orasmua Bushnell and Charles Butler of the American Land Company donated it to the city in 1842 to help their real estate venture succeed, a method by which many of Chicago's earliest parks began. Limestone coping and diagonal walks were added in 1869, and a fountain and benches followed. The park became a stage for public expression, from the 1855 Lager Beer Riot to the soap box orators of the 1910s and later, when it earned the nickname Bughouse Square. Speakers such as Clarence Darrow, Carl Sandburg and Emma Goldman were among those heard there. Changes in the 1970s removed the fountain and comfort station, but the coping, walks, tree canopy and plaza proportions remain. Debates are still held in the park each year. It was listed for its social history, with a period of significance of 1842 to 1940.
Significance in brief: The nomination argues it is the oldest documented surviving park in Chicago and a representative example of how early parks were created through donations by land speculators. It has also served as a major public gathering place, from 1850s political demonstrations to the soap box free-speech forum of the 1910s onward.
Machine-generated summary. This summary was generated by a language model from the official nomination document and has not been reviewed line by line by an editor. It may contain errors. Check the source document before relying on any detail. Source: nomination document (PDF) · National Archives catalog entry. NRHP reference 91000566, listed May 20, 1991. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29, confidence high).
Key facts
| Address | 901 N. Clark St., Chicago |
|---|---|
| County | Cook County |
| Listed | May 20, 1991 |
| Reference number | 91000566 |
| Resource type | Site |
| Period of significance | 1842-1940 |
| Criteria |
|
| Areas of significance | Social History |
| Level of significance | Local |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | Altered in the 1970s, when the comfort station was removed and the central plaza and fountain were replaced; still used for public debates, with restoration of the central plaza under consideration. |
| Acreage | 3 |
| Within district | Washington Square Historic District |
| Coordinates | 41.89961, -87.63061 (NPS GIS) |
What listing means for this property
Sites (archaeological sites, battlefields, landscapes) are often listed with a restricted address to protect them from looting or disturbance. Listing is honorary for private owners; federal undertakings on or near the site go through Section 106 review, and state laws may protect burials and artefacts regardless of listing.
General information, not legal or tax advice. Rules change; confirm with your State Historic Preservation Office or a qualified adviser.
Sources and further reading
- National Park Service, National Register of Historic Places database (snapshot May 2026), reference 91000566.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.