Home to the Clarence Buckingham Memorial Fountain, three museums and ample greenspace, Grant Park is a much-loved Chicago tradition. The idea a lakefront park took root as early as 1835 when residents feared commercial development might envelope the entire shoreline. A result of lobbying for the cause was an area designated free of buildings forever. After suffering lakefront erosion and dumping of rubble from the Great Fire of 1871, the park has evolved into an open space made world famous by the Barack Obama election celebration on November 4, 2008.