An article in the Chicago Tribune's tempo section talks about how maps shape the landscape and includes a couple paragraphs about the Children's Museum --

Made by a map -- chicagotribune.com

"A 172-year-old map is at the center of the ongoing dispute in Chicago about building the new Children's Museum in Grant Park."

On the map, in an empty space designating a stretch of lakefront between Madison Street and 12th Street (now Roosevelt Road), the men wrote: "Public Ground -- A Common to remain forever Open, Clear & free of any buildings, or other Obstructions Whatever."

"The result, ultimately, was Chicago's verdant expanse of lakeshore parks, providing restful glens, refreshing swimming beaches and open space.

"The map "became a rallying point" for those fighting to keep the lakefront public, according to John Russick, a historian at the Chicago History Museum. One was Aaron Montgomery Ward who, between 1890 and 1911, went to court four times on behalf of an open lakefront and four times won victories in the Illinois Supreme Court. Another was Daniel H. Burnham whose Plan of Chicago (1909), written with Edward H. Bennett, envisioned the lakefront as a playground for the entire city.

"In recent months, the 1836 map has again become a rallying point for those opposing construction of the Children's Museum in Grant Park.

"However, supporters of the plan, including Lois Wille, a former Pulitzer Prize-winning Tribune editorial writer and the author of "Forever Open, Clear and Free" (University of Chicago Press, 1972), the history of the lakefront, argue that the museum would fit the spirit of the map's "public ground" designation. In addition, they say it wouldn't be tall enough to obstruct views of Lake Michigan."