Washington Park — a botanical garden in Sangamon County, Illinois — is a lesser-known subject for landscape photographers. It lies in or next to Springfield 1908 Race Riot National Monument, so park hours, fees and rules apply. It sits roughly 1.5 km (0.9 mi) NNE of Leland Grove. It is listed on the National Register of Historic Places.
Washington Park is a park in Springfield, Illinois, listed on the National Register of Historic Places. Located at 1400 Williams Boulevard, the park features walking trails, a botanical garden, large duck pond, rose garden, carillon, and carillon concerts. The park was purchased for city use in 1900, and construction began in 1901. Substantial drainage and dredging were required to turn the wetland portions of the future park into ponds and grassy space. Washington Park is operated by the Springfield Park District.From the Wikipedia article “Washington Park (Springfield, Illinois)”, licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0.
Sunrise & sunset directions
At Washington Park the sunrise point swings a long way through the year: about 58° (ENE) at the June solstice and 121° (ESE) in late December. Sunset moves from 302° (WNW) in June to 240° (WSW) in December, and the midday sun climbs to 74° in summer but only 27° in winter.
| Date | Sunrise | Azimuth | Sunset | Azimuth | Noon sun | Daylight |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| March equinox (Mar 20) | 7:03 AM | 90° E | 7:11 PM | 271° W | 50° | 12h 08m |
| June solstice (Jun 21) | 5:32 AM | 58° ENE | 8:31 PM | 302° WNW | 74° | 15h 00m |
| September equinox (Sep 22) | 6:47 AM | 89° E | 6:58 PM | 271° W | 50° | 12h 11m |
| December solstice (Dec 21) | 7:17 AM | 121° ESE | 4:38 PM | 240° WSW | 27° | 9h 21m |
Azimuth is measured clockwise from true north (90° = east, 270° = west). Computed for 2026; values change by less than a degree from year to year.
Golden hour & blue hour by month
Gardens are best on bright overcast days or early mornings when dew is fresh and the wind is calm.
| Month (15th) | Blue hour starts | Sunrise | Golden hour ends | Golden hour starts | Sunset | Blue hour ends | Daylight |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| January | 6:49 AM | 7:19 AM | 8:00 AM | 4:17 PM | 4:59 PM | 5:28 PM | 9h 40m |
| February | 6:25 AM | 6:52 AM | 7:30 AM | 4:58 PM | 5:35 PM | 6:03 PM | 10h 43m |
| March | 6:44 AM | 7:11 AM | 7:47 AM | 6:30 PM | 7:06 PM | 7:33 PM | 11h 55m |
| April | 5:54 AM | 6:22 AM | 6:58 AM | 7:01 PM | 7:37 PM | 8:05 PM | 13h 15m |
| May | 5:14 AM | 5:45 AM | 6:23 AM | 7:28 PM | 8:07 PM | 8:38 PM | 14h 22m |
| June | 4:58 AM | 5:31 AM | 6:11 AM | 7:49 PM | 8:29 PM | 9:02 PM | 14h 58m |
| July | 5:12 AM | 5:44 AM | 6:23 AM | 7:47 PM | 8:27 PM | 8:59 PM | 14h 43m |
| August | 5:43 AM | 6:12 AM | 6:49 AM | 7:20 PM | 7:57 PM | 8:26 PM | 13h 45m |
| September | 6:13 AM | 6:41 AM | 7:16 AM | 6:34 PM | 7:09 PM | 7:36 PM | 12h 29m |
| October | 6:42 AM | 7:09 AM | 7:46 AM | 5:44 PM | 6:21 PM | 6:48 PM | 11h 11m |
| November | 6:15 AM | 6:44 AM | 7:24 AM | 4:04 PM | 4:44 PM | 5:13 PM | 10h 00m |
| December | 6:43 AM | 7:14 AM | 7:56 AM | 3:53 PM | 4:36 PM | 5:06 PM | 9h 22m |
Local time (America/Chicago), including daylight saving time. Golden hour runs from about −4° to +6° solar altitude, so the morning golden hour begins during blue hour, before sunrise.
Milky Way & night sky
From Washington Park, the Milky Way core is visible in a dark sky from March through September. June gives the longest window (about 4.8 hours on a moonless night), and the core peaks around 21° above the southern horizon. Our light-pollution model puts the sky at about Bortle 7 (suburban / urban transition), so expect visible sky glow; drive away from towns for better results.
| Month | Core visible (15th) | Hours | Max altitude | Direction |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| January | Below 10° in darkness | — | -3° | — |
| February | 5:06 AM – 5:16 AM | 0.2 | 11° | SE → SE |
| March | 4:16 AM – 5:36 AM | 1.3 | 18° | SE → SSE |
| April | 2:14 AM – 4:44 AM | 2.5 | 21° | SE → S |
| May | 12:17 AM – 3:47 AM | 3.5 | 21° | SE → S |
| June | 10:31 PM – 3:21 AM | 4.8 | 21° | SE → SSW |
| July | 10:23 PM – 2:03 AM | 3.7 | 21° | S → SW |
| August | 9:38 PM – 11:58 PM | 2.3 | 21° | S → SW |
| September | 8:41 PM – 10:01 PM | 1.3 | 18° | SSW → SW |
| October | 7:51 PM – 8:01 PM | 0.2 | 12° | SW → SW |
| November | Below 10° in darkness | — | 0° | — |
| December | Below 10° in darkness | — | -19° | — |
Window when the galactic core is at least 10° high during astronomical darkness on the 15th of each month. Pick nights within a few days of the new moon. Plan exact nights with the Milky Way planner.
Estimated sky darkness: 7 Bortle 7 — Suburban / urban transition. The whole sky has a grey-white glow; the Milky Way is invisible to the eye. Modeled zenith brightness ≈ 18.55 mag/arcsec². Aurora needs roughly Kp 7.0+ to show low on the northern horizon here.
Weather & best season
Long-term NASA satellite data for this area show September as the clearest month (about 42% average cloud cover) and December as the cloudiest (68%). July is the warmest month and January the coldest, which matters for gear, snow access and how long batteries last at night.
Average cloud cover (%)
| Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| High °F | 67 | 71 | 79 | 85 | 91 | 106 | 109 | 103 | 101 | 92 | 80 | 71 |
| Low °F | -15 | -13 | 1 | 20 | 32 | 40 | 49 | 49 | 36 | 24 | 9 | -11 |
| Precip. (in) | 2.3 | 2.5 | 3.0 | 4.4 | 4.7 | 4.8 | 3.8 | 3.5 | 3.1 | 3.7 | 3.0 | 2.8 |
Monthly climatology for the surrounding 1° grid cell from NASA POWER (MERRA-2). Mountain sites can be colder and cloudier than the cell average.
Photography tips for this botanical garden
- A macro lens or close-up filter opens a world of detail — try a shallow aperture against a soft background.
- Many gardens restrict tripods or charge for photography; check the rules before you go.
- Backlit petals glow; position yourself so the sun is behind the flower.
- Seasonal exhibits (orchids, tulips, cherry blossoms) draw crowds — arrive at opening.
- Scout in daylight if you plan to shoot at night or before sunrise.
Season: Spring bulbs and blossoms, summer perennials and autumn color; glasshouses offer winter subjects.
Suggested gear: Macro lens, Diffuser, Small reflector. Work out exposures with the depth of field, ND filter and NPF rule calculators.
Permits, drones & access
National Park Service rules. Under federal law (54 U.S.C. 100905), still photography in National Park Service areas needs a permit only when it (1) takes place where members of the public are not allowed, (2) uses models, sets or props that are not part of the location's natural or cultural resources or administrative facilities, or (3) would cause the park to incur additional administrative costs to monitor the activity. Ordinary visitor and most landscape photography needs no permit. Commercial filming rules are separate and have changed in recent years — confirm current requirements with the park before a paid shoot.
Drones: Launching, landing or operating unmanned aircraft (drones) is prohibited in National Park Service units under a 2014 Superintendent's closure (36 CFR 1.5), except where a park has issued specific written approval. Flying from outside the boundary over park land can also violate park rules and disturb wildlife.
Nearby photo spots
Other locations within 25 km of Washington Park, closest first.
State Park
Botanical Garden
Covered Bridge
Botanical GardenFAQ
When is the best time to photograph Washington Park?
What time is golden hour at Washington Park?
Where does the sun rise and set at Washington Park?
Can you see the Milky Way from Washington Park?
Do you need a permit to photograph at Washington Park?
How far is Washington Park from Leland Grove?
Sources
Location data: Wikidata, Wikipedia. Sun, moon and Milky Way times are computed by LWPhoto Atlas for 2026. Climate: NASA POWER. Sky darkness is a population-based estimate (Walker's law), not a measurement. See data sources & licenses.