Events

The Des Plaines River and River Forest From the first Indigenous people to our Cook County Forest Preserves, the Des Plaines River has been a major part of the history of River Forest. On this walk we will explore land and history along the river, think about many who have passed along, and see what they've left us. We will begin and end at Trailside Museum, a community landmark. Tickets are $10

The History of River Forest's Edgewater Park Join us at Oak Park River Forest Museum at 3 p.m. on Saturday April 12 when Historical Society volunteer Frank FioRito presents his research on Edgewater Park, a forgotten piece of River Forest history. Very little trace of it remains today, but once there was a quirky subdivision tucked away in what is now the Thatcher Woods Forest Preserve. Learn more

History lovers and readers unite for the History Book Club. This month the book for discussion will be Blood Moon: An American Epic of War and Splendor in the Cherokee Nation by John Sedgwick. Book Club is open to all current members of The Historical Society of Oak Park and River Forest. Space may be limited. To reserve your place or check your membership status, please email oprfhistorymatters

The Oak Park Farmers Market is celebrating its 50th season this summer. Oak Park River Forest Museum will host a panel discussion of vendors and others associated with the popular market at 11 a.m. Saturday, April 26, at the museum. Doors will open at 10:30 a.m. for coffee and Pilgrim Church donuts. Hear how the market started with one farmer in 1976 and has grown into a beloved summer community

Comic artist Caitlin Cass will discuss how she began making historical comics in this interactive talk geared toward young people ages 7-17. Caitlin's work has been published in the New Yorker, the Lily and The Nib. Her book Suffrage Song: the Haunted History of Gender, Race, and Voting Rights in the U.S. (Fantagraphics, 2024) was awarded Best Graphic Non-fiction by Broken Frontier and named a Top

Spring is here and that means it’s time for The Historical Society of Oak Park and River Forest’s annual spring house walk, “Tales Our Houses Tell.” This year, six beautiful homes in southwest Oak Park will be open for interior tours from 1 to 5 p.m. Sunday, May 4. Tickets are $35 each or $30 for members and may be purchased in our Online Store ; over the phone at 708-848-6755; or at Oak Park

Our stroll through southeast Oak Park's Gunderson Historic District will, of course, tell the story of how the Gunderson Brothers developed and promoted this neighborhood, but it will also include lesser-known stories, like the house once named the Oak Park Academy of Fine Arts, the controversial temporary homes built to ease the post-World War II housing crisis, why this neighborhood was once

Have you ever wondered what's across the bridge at Forest Home Cemetery? If so, join Oak Park River Forest Museum docents for a walking tour to learn more about the people, organizations and stories found west of the Des Plaines River. Find out about the Bill Posters Union and the Cigar Makers International Union, veterans’ and fraternal groups, ethnic areas, the founder of the world’s first blood

The Street of Dreams: Founding Families and Early Architects of Keystone Avenue. Meet us for a stroll through River Forest history. Learn about the oldest commercial building, the architect of the Methodist Church, the “power couple” who helped bring the Columbian Exposition to Chicago, and much more as we take a sidewalk tour down the stretch of Keystone Avenue known as “The Street of Dreams.”