Oak Park River Forest Museum aims to be a community resource for students, parents, and teachers. We provide a unique opportunity to learn about Oak Park and River Forest history in the classroom, at home, and at the museum!
The museum features photographs and maps and artifacts that tell the wide range of stories, and our Fields Research Center houses many resources to answer questions. Our current exhibits tell the stories of Oak Park's long struggle to become a more welcoming and diverse community, the 100th anniversary of Girl Scouts in the villages, notable residents of our two villages, and the history of photography.
For more information on how we can help you with your lesson planning--or how to plan a future visit--contact us on our website, by email at oprfhistorymatters@sbcglobal.net, or call 708-848-6755.
Below are resources available to use at any time.
- Webpages
- Our "Explore History Online" page includes brief histories of Oak Park, River Forest, Forest Home Cemetery, and local photographer Philander Barclay's collection of photographs taken at the turn of the last century.
- Our "Hometown Legends" page features biographies for notable past and present residents of Oak Park or River Forest who left their mark on society.
- Our "This Month in History" page shares stories of interesting or important events in the community's history, often using the museum's collection of printed copies of the Oak Leaves and Wednesday Journal newspapers.
- Our "Photo Store" shows dozens of historic photos from our collection of thousands, including a variety of photos from the Philander Barclay Collection.
- Worksheets
- The following worksheets are a useful aid when visiting the museum or completing research from our website.
- “Museum’s Dozen” (Recommended Grades K-5)
- "Timeline" (Recommended Grades 3-5)
- “Hometown Heroes Quest” (Recommended Grades 4-8)
- “Creative Writing Activity: Fair Housing Exhibit” (Recommended Grades 4-8)
- “Source Guide: Simple” (Recommended Grades 6-8)
- “Source Guide: Advanced” (Recommended Grades 9-12)
- The following worksheets are a useful aid when visiting the museum or completing research from our website.
Book Recommendation List
Oak Park and River Forest have been home to many great cultural figures, especially in literature. This list of books features a series of authors relating to the history, setting, or people of Illinois.
- K-5th grade
- …If You Grew Up with Abraham Lincoln Ann McGovern
- Mr. Lincoln’s Whiskers by Karen B. Winnick
- I Survived #11: I Survived the Great Chicago Fire 1871 by Lauren Trashis
- Children of the Fire by Harriette Gillem Robinet*
- Missing from Haymarket Square by Harriette Gillem Robinet*
- What Can a Citizen Do? by Dave Eggers
- 6-8th grade
- Illinois Native Americans: A 9,000 Year Civilization by in60Learning
- Abraham Lincoln – The Writer: A treasury of His Great Speeches and Letters by Harold Holzer
- Children of the Fire by Harriette Gillem Robinet*
- Missing from Haymarket Square by Harriette Gillem Robinet*
- 10 True Tales: World War I Heroes by Alan Zullo
- A Bus of Our Own by Freddi Williams Evans
- Extra Credit by Andrew Clements
- New Kid by Jerry Craft
- 9-12th grade
- The Sun Also Rises by Ernest Hemingway*
- The Complete Short Stories of Ernest Hemingway*
- The Stone Diaries by Carol Shields*
- Devil in the White City by Erik Larson
- The Chicago Race Riots, July 1919 by Carl Sandburg
- Poems by Charles Simic*
*Author is from Oak Park or River Forest
- Illinois State Board of Education Standards