HWS Cleveland and Hinsdale’s Natural Landscape—the design of the Robbins Addition

As part of the Burnham Plan Centennial the Hinsdale Public Library presents a program exploring Hinsdale’s early growth and how two inspired men blended art and commerce. Landscape architect HWS Cleveland and the father of Hinsdale, William Robbins, collaborated to preserve the area’s natural beauty, while developing Robbins’ second plat, known as the Robbins Addition.  Drawing upon the materials and collections of HDS and HHS, we will explore Hinsdale’s place on the historical cutting edge of urban planning and naturalist land development philosophy of the late 19th Century.