Free movies Grant Park Chicago. Grant Park will host four movies as part of the Summer Film Series at a new location.
Where: Grant Park, Movie showing by Logan Monument, at Michigan Ave. and 9th St..
When: Start time is approximate, all movies begin at dusk.
Monday, June 17, 2019 – 8:30pm-10:30pm Chicago – PG-13
Monday, August 19, 2019 – 8:00pm-10:00pm Grease – PG
Monday, August 26, 2019 – 8:00pm-9:15pm Chicago Onscreen – NR, The Chicago Park District’s sixth-annual celebration and showcase of local films and filmmakers returns to parks with summer with fifteen locally-made and Chicago-focused short and feature films from some of our city’s freshest filmmaking voices.
Looking for dining options? Check out Cheap eats Loop and Cheap eats South Loop.
John Alexander Logan Monument. Image from Chicago Park District website.
About John Alexander Logan – Civil War general, politician and founder of Memorial Day. (redacted from Chicago Park District website)
llinois-born John Alexander Logan (1826–1886) was a war hero and political figure. After serving in the Mexican-American War, Logan studied and practiced law, served several terms as a Democratic Illinois State Representative and then as a United States Congressman. Logan entered the Civil War as a colonel and quickly work his way up to the rank of general.
After the war, Logan switched parties and represented Illinois in the United States House of Representative and the Senate and served as head of the Grand Army of the Republic, an organization of Union Army veterans. On behalf of this organization, he recommended the creation of Memorial Day, known originally as Decoration Day, and first observed on May 30, 1868.
Shortly after Logan’s death in 1886, the Illinois state legislature appropriated funds to create a memorial to him in Chicago. The South Park Commission provided the site and the granite base. The monument had been intended as the burial place for Logan and his wife. Although his widow planned to have his remains moved to the tomb from Washington D.C. along with her body after her death, this never occurred. As a result, the tomb has always been empty.
Other fun fact: In 1889 Logan Square was formed when the towns of Jefferson and Maplewood were annexed to the City of Chicago forming the community of Logan Square, named for Mr. Logan,
