CHICAGO (WGN) – In the heart of Chicago’s Jackson Park is a serene garden with nearly 130 years of history. “Chicago burned down in 1871 and it was ashes,” said Louise McCurry, president of the Jackson Park Advisory Council. After the Great Fire of Chicago, the city hosted the World’s Fair in Colombia in 1893. As a symbol of friendship, Japan donated a garden to the city, which today serves as one of the most important sites in the country and reflects US-Japanese relations. Saira Chambers of the Japanese Arts Foundation said Japan paid about $ 600,000, an enormous sum at the time. “Japan understood this enormous opportunity to use art, architecture and culture to establish itself and create its own identity,” said Chambers. However, over the years the garden has not always been a quiet place. After the bombing of Pearl Harbor, the Phoenix Pavilion was destroyed by two arson attacks. The garden was then almost forgotten for years until some charred remains appeared in a very unlikely location. “Then until 1973 it was a bit sleepy. There are four remains of this pavilion that were found under the stands at Soldier Field. They are now on permanent display at the Art Institute, ”said Chambers. From the ashes of the city and subsequent arson, the garden of the phoenix rises again, a symbol of the devotion of its caretakers. “It’s coming back because there’s a network of Japanese culture that brings it back every time,” Chambers said. Close Modal Propose Correction Propose Correction
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