Oak Park in Cook County, Illinois — The American Midwest (Great Lakes)
Henry Wadsworth Longfellow
February 27, 1807 - March 24, 1882
Photographed by Sean Flynn, September 14, 2023
1. Henry Wadsworth Longfellow Marker
Henry Wadsworth Longfellow was born in Portland, Maine. This is a sketch of the Wadsworth Longfellow home as seen in 1904.
"Under a spreading chestnut tree
The village smithy stands;
The smith, a mighty man is he
With large and sinewry hands;
And the muscles of his brawny arms
Are strong as iron bands."
From The Village Blacksmith
A poem by Longfellow
Topics. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Arts, Letters, Music • Parks & Recreational Areas. A significant historical date for this entry is February 27, 1807.
Location. 41° 52.64′ N, 87° 47.022′ W. Marker is in Oak Park, Illinois, in Cook County. It is on South Cuyler Avenue near Jackson Boulevard, on the left when traveling north. The marker is on the south end of the playground in the middle of Longfellow Park. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 610 South Ridgeland Avenue, Oak Park IL 60304, United
this page online
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 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: Gold Star Men of the World War (within shouting distance of this marker); Longfellow Mosaics (approx. 0.2 miles away); Oak Park (approx. 0.3 miles away); The New [Green] Bungalow (approx. 0.4 miles away); "Family-Style" Electric Home (approx. 0.4 miles away); Staff Sergeant John Thomas Brennan (approx. 0.4 miles away); Oak Park Conservatory (approx. half a mile away); Elvira Rubinstein (approx. half a mile away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Oak Park.
More about this marker. Longfellow Parks playground is being renovated in 2026 and this marker has been temporarily unmoored but can be found on the ground near its original
Photographed by Sean Flynn, September 14, 2023
2. Henry Wadsworth Longfellow Marker
The Longfellow playground is to the right, and the Longfellow Center building is to the rear.
Photographed by Sean Flynn, September 14, 2023
3. Longfellow Center sign
The Longfellow marker is hidden behind the bush in the back of this photo, near the playground.
Photographed by Sean P. Flynn, April 30, 2026
4. Henry Wadsworth Longfellow Marker during 2026 playground renovation
It is not known if and where these signs will be re-placed after the renovation is complete.
Credits. This page was last revised on May 4, 2026. It was originally submitted on September 14, 2023, by Sean P. Flynn of Oak Park, Illinois. This page has been viewed 220 times since then and 19 times this year. Photos: 1. submitted on September 14, 2023, by Sean P. Flynn of Oak Park, Illinois. 2. submitted on September 15, 2023, by Sean P. Flynn of Oak Park, Illinois. 3. submitted on September 14, 2023, by Sean P. Flynn of Oak Park, Illinois. 4. submitted on April 30, 2026, by Sean P. Flynn of Oak Park, Illinois. • Andrew Ruppenstein was the editor who published this page.
