Who knew that the park is home to 16 portrait statues, depicting giants from LaSalle to Lincoln and Shakespeare to Sheridan? With this book in hand, one could visit them all over a day or two – as well as the sites of seven statues that have gone missing!

But Giants in the Park is more than a guidebook. It’s an important contribution to our understanding of the times and events, donors and artists, social movements and political forces that not only account for these precious works of public art but also contributed to Chicago’s growth and development. As these statues tell their stories through Krista August, we learn more about our remarkable city.