Chicago Botanic Garden

The Chicago Botanic Garden is a public horticultural space north of Chicago in Cook County, organized around nine linked islands with themed plantings, meadows, water surfaces, and wooded sections. The individual garden areas range from formal beds to naturalized plantings and are distributed along paths and bridges across the islands.

The garden opened in the early seventies of the 20th century as a joint project between the Forest Preserve District and a horticultural society. The islands and lakes were created through reshaping wetlands and pasture in this part of Cook County.

The English name connects the site to Chicago, though it lies north of the city. Visitors walk the paths linking the individual garden displays and watch waterfowl along the shores of the lakes.

The entrance lies roughly 20 miles north of downtown Chicago and can be reached by commuter trains and roads. The grounds remain open until sunset, with morning opening staying the same throughout the year.

A building for plant science on the grounds uses a planted roof and received certification for sustainable construction. The structure demonstrates techniques for rainwater use and temperature regulation through vegetation.

Location: Glencoe

Location: Cook County

Inception: 1972

Accessibility: Wheelchair accessible

Address: 1000 Lake Cook Rd, Glencoe, IL 60022

Website: https://chicagobotanic.org

GPS coordinates: 42.14833,-87.79000

Latest update: December 5, 2025 22:29