Oak Park in Cook County, Illinois — The American Midwest (Great Lakes)

Mills Park and Pleasant Home

Photographed by Sean Flynn

1. Mills Park and Pleasant Home Marker

Inscription. You are now in the heart of the 4.5 acre Mills Park, where grand gardens, a carriage house and fountain once stood. John Farson welcomed 2,000 guests to his glorious Rose Fete here. This event featured an operetta amid a landscape studded with twinkling lights and decorated with red and white roses.

Architect George W. Maher, pictured above at left with John Farson on the right, supervised the design of the landscape. The gardens were graded to slope south from the house, and wide stone steps flanked with palm trees led to the fountain. Just beyond the fountain was a circular annual garden that you can see today.

Have a seat on the circular bench to enjoy viewing the entire park. If you look at the photo above, you'll see that this seating area reflects one that was in this location more than a century ago. In the background you can see a "clubhouse" that John Farson built for his sons.

Welcome to Mills Park and Pleasant Home
This public historic site (also known as the John Farson House) was once the private home of John and Mamie Farson (1897-1910) and Herbert and Leonie Mills (1910-1939). The entire estate

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has been owned by the Park District of Oak Park since 1939 and operated by the Pleasant Home Foundation since 1990. Mills Park (named after the second owners) features historic, natural and discovery zones for all to enjoy. Pleasant Home, designed by George W. Maher in 1897, is a National Historic Landmark. Visit www.pdop.org for more information.

Erected by Park District of Oak Park and Pleasant Home Foundation.

Topics. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Architecture • Parks & Recreational Areas • Settlements & Settlers. A significant historical year for this entry is 1897.

Location. 41° 53.098′ N, 87° 48.052′ W. Marker is in Oak Park, Illinois, in Cook County. It can be reached from Home Avenue near Pleasant Street. It faces Pleasant Home to the south of it, along a pathway in Mills Park. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 217 Home Avenue, Oak Park IL 60302, United States of America. Touch for directions.

Regionally, this marker is in Greater Chicago.

It is also in the American Midwest

and on the Great Lakes.

Globally, it is in North America,

the Western Hemisphere,

the

Photographed by Sean Flynn, August 15, 2023

2. Mills Park and Pleasant Home Marker

Western World,

and the Anglosphere.

Historically, it finds itself in what was once the Viceroyalty of New France,

the territory of the Mississippian Culture,

and the Northwest Territory.

Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within walking distance of this marker: A different marker also named Mills Park and Pleasant Home (within shouting distance of this marker); a different marker also named Mills Park and Pleasant Home (within shouting distance of this marker); a different marker also named Mills Park and Pleasant Home (within shouting distance of this marker); Solar System (within shouting distance of this marker); Volcanoes (about 300 feet away, measured in a direct line); Cambrian Sea (about 300 feet away); Ancient Illinois Climate (about 300 feet away); Pleasant Home (about 300 feet away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Oak Park.

Related markers. Click here for a list of markers that are related to this marker. Mills Park and Pleasant Home, Oak Park, IL

Credits. This page was last revised on April 28, 2025. It was originally submitted on August 17, 2023, by Sean P. Flynn of Oak Park, Illinois. This page has been viewed 237 times since then and 14 times this year. Last updated on August 25, 2023, by Sean P. Flynn of Oak Park, Illinois. Photos: 1, 2. submitted on August 17, 2023, by Sean P. Flynn of Oak Park, Illinois. • J. Makali Bruton was the editor who published this page.