Northerly Island, a 91-acre man made peninsula, and its lagoon, were built as part of a project to reclaim the lakeshore for use as a public park. Daniel Burnham (1846 – 1912), the architect who had managed the construction of the 1893 World’s Columbian Exposition, developed a visionary proposal known as the 1909 Plan of Chicago. One of the plan’s goals was to reclaim the lakeshore for the public which included the creation of Northerly Island as a lakefront park. The island was meant to be part of a five-island chain between Jackson Park and Roosevelt Road, but Northerly Island was the only lakefront structure to be built based on the plan. The island was completed in 1925 and served as one of the sites for the 1933 Century of Progress.

Northerly Island and its lagoon served as the stunning backdrop for the Sky Ride, lagoon grandstands, boat rides, and the illuminated fountain. This white and blue captain’s hat with “World Fair Lagoon” stitched in gold piping may have been purchased by a visitor to the exposition, or worn by someone who worked one of the attractions on the lagoon. Today, Northerly Island forms the southern end of Monroe Harbor, and the lagoon now serves as Burnham Harbor.