Oak Park Walking Tour Including the Frank Lloyd Wright Historic District

Want to get away from the craziness of the Chicago DNC 2024 downtown this weekend? Then join us for a new neighborhood walking tour of another vibrant Chicago area community! This time we will go just outside of Chicago for a walk-through the historic and quaint suburb of Oak Park to discover the gorgeous mansions, exquisite architecture, and old churches. It is the home of Frank Lloyd Wright and Ernest Hemingway, so there is a lot to uncover! Come meet Chicago’s fun next-door neighbors. They’re known for architecture, history and so much more!

It will be a great walk on a lovely summer Saturday afternoon. It's a multi-meetup group event! While it is not a strict photo walk, there will be many opportunities to take pictures!

The cost is $20 per person. THIS IS A PAID PRIVATE NEIGHBORHOOD WALKING TOUR OF THE BEAUTIFUL & HISTORIC SUBURB OF OAK PARK WITH AN EXPERT CHICAGO GUIDE. Some of you have done my other neighborhood tours of Old Irving Park, Logan Square, Motor Row/Record Row, Ukrainian Village, Old Town, Prairie Avenue & Portage Park. Please check out another walking tour that I have developed for the Oak Park area.

Beginning on the famous US Post Office on Lake Street near the Green Line L station we will walk throughout downtown Oak Park & the Frank Lloyd Wright Historic District. The tour will feature several famous landmarked Frank Lloyd Wright homes, and quite a few mansions.

The tour is approx. 2.2 miles of walking outside so wear good walking shoes and proper outdoor clothing for the Chicago summer weather.

Note that the tour ends about 4 blocks from where we start, so park accordingly if you drive. We start at United States Postal Office 901 Lake Street and end at Elizabeth Cheney Mansion 220 N Euclid Ave., so it is an easy walk back your car depending on where you park

After the walk, some of us may grab a bite at Hemmingway's Bistro https://hemmingwaysbistro.com/ or Papaspiros https://www.papaspiroslive.com/ or Amerikas Restaurant https://amerikasrestaurant.com/ All are welcome to join!

IF YOU WISH TO INSTEAD PAY IN CASH IN PERSON ON THE DAY OF THE WALK, PLEASE MESSAGE ME DIRECTLY AT [email protected] SO I CAN ARRANGE SOMETHING.

Oak Park was first settled in 1835 and later incorporated in 1902 when it separated from Cicero. Architect Frank Lloyd Wright and his wife settled in Oak Park in 1889, and his work heavily influenced local architecture and design including the Frank Lloyd Wright Home and Studio. Over the years, rapid development was spurred by railroads and street cars connecting the village's close proximity to jobs in Chicago. In 1968, Oak Park passed The Open Housing Ordinance which helped devise strategies to integrate the village rather than resegregate.

Today, Oak Park remains ethnically diverse and is known for its socially liberal politics with 80% or higher voter turnout in every presidential election since 2000. The entire village of Oak Park lies on the shore of ancient Lake Chicago, which covered most of the city of Chicago during the last Ice Age and was the forerunner to today's Lake Michigan. Ridgeland Avenue in eastern Oak Park marks the shoreline of the lake and was once an actual ridge.

Frank Lloyd Wright spent the first 20 years of his life and career in the Oak Park area, It is home to the largest collection of his buildings and attracts thousands of guests annually. Nearly 30 homes and buildings in Oak Park were designed by Frank Lloyd Wright, including his own home and studio.

Some of the places we will stop are:
901 Lake St, United States Postal Service
875 Lake St, FLW Unity Temple
167 Forest Ave, Austin Gardens
210 Forest Ave, Frank W. Thomas House
6 Elizabeth Ct, Laura Gale House
238 Forest Ave, Peter A. Beachy House
313 Forest Ave, The Hills-DeCaro House
318 Forest Ave, Arthur Heurtley House
333 Forest Ave, Nathan G. Moore House
951 Chicago Ave, Frank Lloyd Wright Home and Studio,
1019 Chicago Ave, Robert P. Parker House
1031 Chicago Ave, Walter Gale House
1019 Chicago Ave, Robert P Parker house
509 N Oak Park Ave, International Mansion
339 N Oak Park Ave, Ernest Hemingway Birthplace Museum
317 N S Euclid Ave, Charles E Roberts Stable House
220 N Euclid Ave, Elizabeth F Cheney Mansion

If you are taking public transportation, please check their website for directions or use google maps or CTA trip planner. https://www.transitchicago.com/planatrip/

If you are driving, there is metered street parking along Lake Street & Oak Park plus free on surrounding side streets but pay attention to parking signs especially permit parkin!

PLEASE KEEP RSVP UP TO DATE AND DO NOT BE A NO SHOW!

How to find us: *TICKETED EVENT* Meet outside the US Post Office 901 Lake St Oak Park- look for the large group gathered, Remember the walk ends about 4 blocks from where we start! Call me at (312) 835-4259 if lost or late.

For more info about my meetup group, click on the links below:

https://www.meetup.com/1001-things-to-see-in-chicago-before-you-die/

Host or Publisher 1001 Things to See in Chicago Before You Die