Events

Take a stroll with us through scenic, historic River Forest on West Side Stories: People and Architecture That Shaped River Forest ! This walk up Edgewood Place and then south on Thatcher Avenue will demonstrate why these two streets are a living outdoor museum of architecture and village history. Hear fascinating and surprising stories about people who lived here, some of the renowned architects

Join us at River Forest Public Library when Historical Society volunteer Frank FioRito presents his research on a forgotten piece of River Forest history. No trace of it remains today, but once there was a quirky subdivision tucked away in what is now the Thatcher Woods Forest Preserve. How it came to be there, what life was like for its residents, and why there’s no sign of it today will be the

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

Join us for this tour down Lake Street as Historical Society guides tell the stories of women in our community who broke down barriers in the fields of government and civic life, cultural affairs, and social services. You'll meet pioneers in fair housing and civil rights as well as a judge, a symphony conductor, and women on the war memorial in Scoville Park. The tour kicks off at 10 a.m. at the

History lovers and readers unite for the History Book Club. This month we will discuss the book Oil and Marble by Stephanie Storey. Books will be available for loan at Oak Park Public Library, on hold behind the main desk under "History Book Club." 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

Take a stroll with us through scenic, historic River Forest on West Side Stories: People and Architecture That Shaped River Forest ! This walk up Edgewood Place and then south on Thatcher Avenue will demonstrate why these two streets are a living outdoor museum of architecture and village history. Hear fascinating and surprising stories about people who lived here, some of the renowned architects

Don’t miss our annual Tale of the Tombstones Cemetery Walk on Sunday, October 20, where we will host a walking tour of Forest Home Cemetery and feature actors portraying a handful of the notable people laid to rest there.