Walter Eugene Olson was born February 18 1884. If you are a real Chicagoan, and a bit old, you might well remember the gift he gave to all of us. It was the 22 acre Olson Park and Waterfall which opened September 27, 1935 on the northwest corner of Diversey and Pulaski (back then Crawford Avenue). in Chicago. 
He wanted to “transplant some of the Wisconsin out of doors spirit to the then somewhat drab factory grounds.”
Next to his massive carpet factory there was this landmark park made of 800 tons of stone, 800 yards of soil, 3,500 perennials, junipers, spruces, and pines. There were paths with birch railings and foot bridges that allowed visitors to walk across the waterfall, a birch bark canoe, a teepee, a statue of a Native American, and more. There was a rock garden, picnic area, bird sanctuary, a duck pond, ravines and caves. In 1942 there were peacocks, golden pheasants, and even Corriedale sheep!
The focal point was the three waterfalls, one reaching 35 feet in height with 22,000 gallons of water.
Walter was inspired by one or more of the 22 falls in Ontonagon county in Upper Michigan. Visually, the most likely one seems to be Ajibikoka Falls on the Ontonagon River. It is located near the town of Watersmeet.in Gogebic County.
Compare with the Olson Fall as Walter built it. 
Walter’s Father, Oliver B. Olson was born in Stavanger, Norway and came to Chicago where he learned the carpet trade. After working for several companies including Marshall Field and Company’s predecessor (Field, Leiter & Co.), he started the Olson Rug company in September 1874 by weaving rugs in the basement of 1220 W. Ohio (old street numbering system). Oliver died on May 4, 1895 at age 44 and is buried in Mount Olive Cemetery just four miles from where the Olson Rug Company would later have their massive mill and waterfall.
Fast forward to 1905 when Oliver’s son Walter became the head of the company at the young age of 21. 
In 1928 he built the modern manufacturing mill on Diversey with 1.5 million feet of floor space and employed about 1,800 people. Looms wove eendless length rolls of carpeting as wide as 18 feet. Bales of wool came from India, China, the middle east and Scotland. During the war era, when raw material was scarce, people would send in their old wool rugs, rags, and even clothing where Olson Rug would turn them into area rugs. Olson became the leading rug company in the area and the largest mill outside of the east coast.
Walter Olson shared his manufacturing success with all of Chicagoans by building Olson Park and Waterfall in the heart of Chicago. The park officially opened on September 27, 1935, what was then American Indian Day in Illinois as well as the 100th anniversary of a treaty resulted in the final expulsion of the Pottawatomies, Chippewas, and Ottawas across the Mississippi. Each of the three waterfalls in the park represented the three tribes, which all had members in attendance.
Throughout the decades, regular events at the park included tribal songs and rituals by Chief Thundercloud of the Ottawas and princesses Medicine Man Child and Walk-In-The Day. There were archery demonstrations, skits, and a Green Corn Festival in 1950 when the Great Spirit provided blessings for a bountiful harvest. The park was immensely popular especially around holidays. In October 1958 there was a wonderful recreation of John T. McCutcheon’s famous Injun Summer cartoon first published in the Chicago Tribune.
There were fantastic Christmas displays featuring lights, Santa’s cottage, candy canes, reindeer, and Santa sledding along the length of a hanging wire. There were seven tall trees decorated with colored lights, a Nativity scene and life-size deer statues . Children knew Santa would be waiting for them at the park where he sat in a chair every night in December, listening to children telling him what they wanted for Christmas. Each received a small gift. The company also provided hot cocoa and sugar cookies. Do any of you readers remember being there for Christmas?
All good things come to an end. In 1962, Walter Olson sold the company and its retail outlets to the Stephen-Leedom Carpet Co.In 1965, Walter sold the massive plant to Marshall Field & Co., which used the property for a service center and warehouse.
Walter Eugene Olson died on May 4 1975 and is entombed with his wife Ida in Rosehill Cemetery. Buildings later became property Macy’s. Thank you Walter, for the waterfall and park!
Some of the northwest Siders might have had family who worked in the factory on the looms. Add a comment below.
And how many of us were excited when our parents would take us to the Olson waterfall? Please comment below if you remember this special place.
Chicago and Cook County Cemeteries 
I remember the display at Olsen Rugs. It seemed huge to me, as I was just a child. Thanks for the memories and information.
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Loved going to the Olsen Rug waterfall as a child. Especially on the rare occasions that my parents would go in the evenings when all lights were on. Always stopped for a hot dog from the nearby stand.
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My folks took my sister and I. We were endlessly fascinated. It was such a beautiful transplanted place, nature right in the heart of the city. Remember the chanted phone number? Hudson 3 2700……my folks then took us to Buffalo Ice cream for a kiddie hot fudge sundae. What a treat!
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Thanks so much for you memories. As a kid, I shared those as well
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Yes, I remember that low voice sort of singing Hudson 3-2700! How is it that has made such a long lasting impression?
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My grandmother would take me there on the STREETCAR and bring Sandwiches for a daylong outing
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A great memory!
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Thanks Walter, you made so many people happy with your free display. It was so peaceful walking through the display, with the water running and the outdoor Indian scenes.
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I remember going to the falls as a child. I especially liked the display of the melted items from the Chicago fire. I remember silverware and marbles. I think that they are at the Chicago History Museum now.
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I remember going there as a child. We would have fun walking across the falls. There were ducks over on the side of the building which we used to feed.
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My Grampa worked as a shipping/receiving foreman, my dad was a maintenance man there also. I had an uncle that also worked on the looms there. I can remember picking up my dad after work there. So many people came outat shift change. Lived at Sacramento and Diversey at the time. I remember going to see the water fall park. I believe when my grampa started there he helped with the building of the falls. So many great memories.
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great memories! thanks for writing!!
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Many good memories. I wished I could also have shared this memory with my children, of happy days and pleasent evenings and eating in this wonderful place.
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Olson’s waterfalls and Buckingham Fountain were the two places we would beg our parents to take us. I swear I remember being frightened of and talking to a “real” Indian near or in a teepee one time.
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I have a family photo of a relative standing along side a panel truck that reads: ‘Olson Rugs’ ‘Made from your materials’. My mother told me the man is her father’s brother. I would love to verify the name should there be any enmployee records available.We are descendants of Olsons but I do not believe we are related to these Olsons. I have enjoyed learning the history of this company.
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As a child my mother would take .e and l loved it so much l had to take .my boys often to visit it too…loved the waterfalls and especially walking acrossed them…
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One of my fondest childhood memories… My grandmother served hotdogs from the trailer there.
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I wonder if I have had one of her hot dogs
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My grandparents lived nearby. After dinner we’d walk to the falls. It was magical for this 5-6 year old.
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As a boy my Dad would take me there back in the late 40,s. .It reminded us of Lac View Desere in Land O Lakes, Wi. We went there for fishing and fresh air. I later went to Michigan Tech in the U.P. Houghton and became a Forester working in the areas that Olson Park copied.
It had a lot of influence in my life
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The forced relocation of thousands of native Americans was called the “Trail of Tears”. I was thinking that the waterfall could have symbolized those tears. I too was scared by the Indian Chief who was present when I visited the waterfall. I also remember the Injun Summer display. Thanks mom for taking me on many trips in and around Chicago back in the ’40s and ’50s. Harold Blesy
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I am 77 and I remember visiting the beautiful waterfall when I was 9 years old. It stayed with me forever..thanks so for the memory. I was born at Grant Hospital in Chicago 1944..
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I remember that waterfall. It was a special treat to walk there with mz parents.
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