02 Jan the restoration of joseph lyman silsbee’s garfield park bandstand is gradually progressing and is expected to return to its original splendor by end of 2026.
recent restoration images – taken in mid-december of 2025 – of joseph lyman silsbee’s bandstand (1897) located at west music court in garfield park.
the four-sided structure is faced with white marble supplied by the georgia marble company.
the uniquely designed stamped or pressed copper dome with protruding finial, was executed by the frank voigtmann cornice company, chicago, il.
richly colored mosaics punctuate the exterior in the form of recessed panels and morrish-style headers above the doorways leading to the interior, where a massive mosaic adorns the underside of the dome. the mosaic work was completed by john carretti and company, a tile and terrazzo company based in chicago.
i’ve inlcuded images of the bandstand as it appeared in the early 20th century and early stages of deconstruction.
