Historical Society of Oak Park and River Forest

10/17/2026

If you haven’t yet purchased your advance tickets for tomorrow’s “Tale of the Tombstones” Cemetery Walk, you can do so until 5 p.m. today by visiting oprfmuseum.org or by calling 708-848-6755.

The walk starts at noon Sunday, Oct. 18, in Forest Home Cemetery, Forest Park. 🪦

10/16/2026

** FRIDAY FLASHBACK ** Irving Elementary School art teacher Alberta Johnson talks with student Helen Roehr. In fall of 1980, Johnson arranged for 70 pieces of her students’ artwork to be displayed at Mosca’s Cardinal Food Mart, 215 W. Harrison, Oak Park.
Oak Park Elementary School District 97

10/15/2026

Our 35th annual “Tale of the Tombstones” Cemetery Walk is this coming Sunday! Costumed actors bring the deceased to life by telling their stories and our guides, as seen in this classic video promoting the event, point out interesting facts as you walk through the beautiful, 150-year-old Forest Home Cemetery.

Explore Forest Home Cemetery with us during this 35th annual Cemetery Walk on Sunday, Oct. 18. Tours start at noon. Advance tickets are on sale now at oprfmuseum.org or by calling 708-848-6755.

One of the stories our actors will be sharing this Sunday features the Oak Park River Forest Day Nursery.
The Day Nursery

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-3iqO_FT_kc

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10/13/2026

Join us at Forest Home Cemetery, Forest Park, this Sunday, Oct. 18, for our 35th annual Cemetery Walk. Our talented actors will bring stories of the cemetery’s “residents” to life. Our theme this year is “American Movements,” literally in some cases, figuratively in others.

Tickets can be purchased at oprfmuseum.org/store #!/Cemetery-Walk/p/97740893. Choose your tour starting time, available every 10 minutes starting at noon until 1:30 p.m., when you reserve your ticket.

10/09/2026

** FRIDAY FLASHBACK ** The Symphony of Oak Park and River Forest is celebrating its 95th anniversary this year.

Oak Park resident Gladys Welge, a well-known orchestra conductor, founded the orchestra in 1931 as a “Sunday School orchestra” for all ages at Second Presbyterian Church on the northwest corner of Ridgeland and Washington, now the site of a condo building and Our Lady Immaculate Church.

The Oak Parker newspaper on Sept. 9, 1932, said that Welge, a well-known orchestra conductor, was soliciting public interest and support about organizing an Oak Park Symphony Orchestra. Welge had been the assistant conductor of the Woman’s Symphony Orchestra of Chicago for three years prior; conductor of Second Presbyterian Church orchestra of Oak Park for two years and was head of the stringed instrument work and conductor the high school and junior high school orchestras of Downers Grove for the previous year.

This expanded orchestra had its first rehearsal on Oct. 11, 1932, at the Second Presbyterian Church and its first concert was held Jan. 17, 1933, at Oak Park River Forest High School.

Welge, born in Austin, conducted the symphony from its founding until she retired to Wisconsin in 1954.

This picture shows Gladys Welge, symphony founder and conductor, in a November 1933 program book. The orchestra photo is from a March 1937 program cover.
The Symphony of Oak Park & River Forest

10/08/2026

This is the 35th consecutive October we have led the “Tale of the Tombstones” walking tour through Forest Home Cemetery. To mark that milestone, enjoy this classic video promoting the event.

This year’s Cemetery Walk will be held on Sunday, Oct. 18. Advance tickets are on sale now at oprfmuseum.org or by calling 708-848-6755. Tours start at noon.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yWD-IXjXnnE

On Sunday Oct. 18 beginning at 1 p.m., the 2015 walking tour will b...

10/08/2026

What do you remember from 1976?

Jimmy Carter ran successfully for president, Montreal hosted the Summer Olympics, “Silly Love Songs” by Paul McCartney and Wings topped the Billboard charts, “Family Feud” debuted on TV, and the nation celebrated its Bicentennial.

Share your Bicentennial mementos at Oak Park River Forest Museum at 3 p.m. this Sunday, Oct. 11. Email [email protected] with your name and a photo of what you’d like to share so we can plan the afternoon.

If you don’t have something to share, that’s OK. Come by, reminisce and take a look at our new Bicentennial display. Regular admission rates apply.

10/07/2026

Our 35th annual Tale of the Tombstones Cemetery Walk is less than two weeks away!

Buy your tickets today as some popular tour times sell out early! The walk begins at noon on Sunday, Oct. 18, at Forest Home Cemetery, 863 Desplaines Ave., in Forest Park. Follow a guide through the beautiful cemetery, hearing stories of the dearly departed. This year’s theme, in keeping with the nation’s 250th anniversary, is “American Movements.”

Purchase your tickets at oprfmuseum.org/store #!/Cemetery-Walk/p/97740893. Tickets are $25; $20 for members. Join today and save.

10/05/2026

10/02/2026

Our "Art Deco in Central Oak Park" walking tour that was postponed due to weather ☔ in September has been rescheduled for next Saturday, Oct. 10.

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, Oct. 10, in the lobby of the Medical Arts Building (pictured), at 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/store #!/Art-Deco-Walking-Tour/p/144417504 or by calling 708-848-6755.