Historical Society of Oak Park and River Forest

Historical Society of Oak Park and River Forest Founded in 1968. Beginning in 1970 operated a Museum, Research Center, and Archives in Pleasant Home

Today is Edgar Rice Burrough's 151st birthday! 🎈🎉🎂Did you know he wrote many of his fantastic tales while living in Oak ...
09/01/2026

Today is Edgar Rice Burrough's 151st birthday! 🎈🎉🎂Did you know he wrote many of his fantastic tales while living in Oak Park? Read more about him here, oprfmuseum.org/this-month-in-history/happy-birthday-edgar-rice-burroughs.

** FRIDAY FLASHBACK ** In early 1973, the Oak Park Board of Realtors hosted a slogan contest asking Oak Park residents t...
08/28/2026

** FRIDAY FLASHBACK ** In early 1973, the Oak Park Board of Realtors hosted a slogan contest asking Oak Park residents to come up with a village slogan that included the words “Oak Park” and was less than 10 words. The board received hundreds of submissions including “Oak Park – the ‘Wright’ place to live,” “If Oak Park can’t do it – it can’t be done,” “Oak Park – smack dab in the middle of life,” “Smile! You’re in Oak Park” and “Oak Park’s proud yesterday and challenging today is tomorrow’s promise.”

Chosen as the winner was “Oak Park – Where Heritage and Vision Come Together,” submitted by the Rev. Rodney G. Peters, associate pastor of First Presbyterian Church, Oak Park. The winner in the children’s division was Cynthia Lynn Novak, a student at Lincoln School, who submitted “The village for all seasons – Oak Park.”

This picture shows the winners, Lincoln School fifth grader Cynthia Novak, at left, the Rev. Rodney Peters, along with Anita Kirby, originator of the contest, looking at a bumper stickers with Peters’ winning slogan on it.
What slogan would you suggest for Oak Park today?

If you’re a fan of everything Art Deco, you’re not going to want to miss our “Art Deco in Central Oak Park” walking tour...
08/26/2026

If you’re a fan of everything Art Deco, you’re not going to want to miss our “Art Deco in Central Oak Park” walking tour. Oak Park boasts an array of marvelous examples of Art Deco design that are often overlooked. Our guides will lead the tour along Lake Street and point out the many treasures that we walk past every day without noticing.

The tour starts at 10 a.m. Saturday, Sept. 19, in the lobby of the Medical Arts Building, 715 Lake St. Walk along Lake Street to Harlem, looping back to the starting point.

Tickets are $10 or $8 for members. Tickets are limited. Purchase tickets in our online store at oprfmuseum.org or by calling 708-848-6755.

Prefer a different date? Group tours on other dates may be booked by special arrangement. Contact the Museum for more information.

** FRIDAY FLASHBACK ** It's back to school season and parents are navigating the ramp up of school activities. In 1928...
08/21/2026

** FRIDAY FLASHBACK ** It's back to school season and parents are navigating the ramp up of school activities. In 1928 at Lincoln School in Oak Park, the youngest students jumped right into cultural opportunities by joining the Kindergarten Band.
Oak Park Elementary School District 97

Join us this Saturday, Aug. 22, on our “Women Builders of Community” walking tour. This guided tour starts at 10 a.m. Sa...
08/19/2026

Join us this Saturday, Aug. 22, on our “Women Builders of Community” walking tour. This guided tour starts at 10 a.m. Saturday, Aug. 22, at the Nineteenth Century Club.

This year, the walk focuses on Forest and Kenilworth avenues. You’ll see the homes and hear about the lives of women who made a difference in Oak Park and around the world. Meet a founder of the Art League who has a school named for her in Colombia, an activist who has a chapel named for her, a suffragist who won the vote for women in Illinois, a radio pioneer and newspaper columnist who lectured across the United States, a political lobbyist turned village trustee, and many more!

Tickets are $10 each (or $8 for members). Purchase tickets on our website at oprfmuseum.org or by calling 708-848-6755.

** FRIDAY FLASHBACK ** Oak Park and River Forest teens had Ridgeland Pool all to themselves during a Splash Dance in Aug...
08/14/2026

** FRIDAY FLASHBACK ** Oak Park and River Forest teens had Ridgeland Pool all to themselves during a Splash Dance in August 1986. Recognize anyone in this picture from 40 years ago?

Hear about the women who helped shape the villages on our “Women Builders of Community” walking tour starting at 10 a.m....
08/13/2026

Hear about the women who helped shape the villages on our “Women Builders of Community” walking tour starting at 10 a.m. Saturday, Aug. 22. This guided tour starts at the Nineteenth Century Club.

This year, the walk focuses on Forest and Kenilworth avenues. You’ll see the homes and hear about the lives of women who made a difference in Oak Park and around the world. Meet a founder of the Art League who has a school named for her in Colombia, an activist who has a chapel named for her, a suffragist who won the vote for women in Illinois, a radio pioneer and newspaper columnist who lectured across the United States, a political lobbyist turned village trustee, and many more!

Tickets are $10 each (or $8 for members). Purchase tickets on our website at oprfmuseum.org or by calling 708-848-6755.

Here’s a “mystery house” in Oak Park. Often when we’re searching through our collection, we come across items that aren’...
08/12/2026

Here’s a “mystery house” in Oak Park. Often when we’re searching through our collection, we come across items that aren’t fully identified. When we’re able to better describe the items, we are better able to assist researchers when they visit the museum.

Any thoughts where this house is located? This picture postcard is postmarked June 24, 1909. The note on the postcard says, “Dear Friend, Arrived home all O.K. but had a terrible cold in my head. Raymond sends a kiss and wishes he could go back to Saugatuck. (Signed) Mrs. Ford.” The card sender wrote a note on the front of the card that said the middle house was hers.

Those of you who were around in 1976 remember what a big deal the Bicentennial was. At 3 p.m. on Sunday, Oct. 11, Oak Pa...
08/11/2026

Those of you who were around in 1976 remember what a big deal the Bicentennial was. At 3 p.m. on Sunday, Oct. 11, Oak Park River Forest Museum is hosting “Stories from ’76: A Bicentennial Remembrance” where you can share those Bicentennial items you’ve been saving for the last 50 years and tell their stories.

Or just come and listen to the stories of 1976 - even if it was before your time!

Sign up in advance to share your item by emailing your name and a photo of your item to [email protected] so we can better plan the event. Each speaker will have up to five minutes to share. Join us that day to hear some Bicentennial memories!

** FRIDAY FLASHBACK ** Before Oak Park’s current Main Branch Public Library was opened in 2003, this building, located o...
08/07/2026

** FRIDAY FLASHBACK ** Before Oak Park’s current Main Branch Public Library was opened in 2003, this building, located on the same site, was the Main Branch, completed in 1964. The sculpture, titled “Unity and Growth,” that was outside this library’s entrance, now is featured in the vestibule of the current Main Library. The sculpture was created in 1966 by Carole Harrison (1933-2022) of Michigan.
Oak Park Public Library

Address

129 Lake Street
Oak Park, IL
60302

Opening Hours

Wednesday 1pm - 5pm
Thursday 1pm - 5pm
Friday 1pm - 5pm
Saturday 1pm - 5pm

Telephone

(708) 848-6755

Website

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