George E. Kessler, one of the most influential landscape architects of the early twentieth century, shaped park systems and civic landscapes across the Midwest. Between 1917 and 1921, he prepared a series of park and boulevard plans for Terre Haute rooted in the ideals of the City Beautiful Movement, positioning parks as essential civic infrastructure that enhanced public health, beauty, and cultural life. Over time, these drawings were forgotten and nearly lost. The George Kessler: Century Forgotten, Century Restored project began when LOWLAND Workshop rediscovered thirty-three historic plans—ten original Kessler blueprints—transforming an archival find into a broader preservation and education effort to reconnect the community with this significant chapter of its landscape heritage.

LOWLAND secured grant funding and led the preservation, interpretation, and public engagement process in collaboration with local historians, the Terre Haute Parks Department, and the Vigo County Public Library. The plans were digitized for public access, archived in Special Collections, and translated into accessible storytelling through exhibits, lectures, and immersive virtual reality experiences. A month-long library exhibit drew an estimated 1,000 visitors per day, while university presentations engaged 65 students and faculty, and community events reached more than 100 residents. Expanded through social media and local television, the initiative ultimately reintroduced Kessler’s vision to thousands, reinforcing its lasting influence on Terre Haute’s park legacy.