Oak Park in Cook County, Illinois — The American Midwest (Great Lakes)
Oak Park
Photographed by Sean Flynn
1. Oak Park Marker
Erected 1927 by Village of Oak Park.
Topics. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Government & Politics • Settlements & Settlers. A significant historical year for this entry is 1901.
Location. 41° 52.785′ N, 87° 46.713′ W. Marker is in Oak Park, Illinois, in Cook County. It can be reached from Madison Street west of South Taylor Street, on the right when traveling east. The tablet is located inside Council Chambers in Oak Park's Village Hall, to the left of the dais. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 123 Madison Street, 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 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: Longfellow Mosaics (about 700 feet away, measured in a direct line); Henry Wadsworth Longfellow (approx. 0.3 miles away); Gold Star Men of the World War (approx. 0.4 miles away); Austin VFW Post 2955 War Memorial
this page online
More about this marker. The top of the plaque includes the names of village board members from both 1902 and 1927. The herald in the upper left is holding a document entitled "Charter," and the one on the right is holding an item that says "Twenty-Fifth Anniversary."
Regarding Oak Park. This bronze tablet was originally dedicated in 1927 on the outside of the village's first Municipal Building, a 1904 structure that stood at the southeast corner of Euclid and Lake streets, about a mile and a quarter northwest of the current building. The marker was one of two plaques dedicated as part of Oak Park's 25th anniversary celebration in 1927; the other, in honor of the village's first white settler Joseph Kettlestrings, can still be found in Scoville Park, near the Oak Park Public Library and a block west of the original
Photographed by Sean Flynn, September 18, 2023
2. Village of Oak Park Council Chambers
Part of the historical marker can be seen on the far left.
The original Municipal Building was replaced by the current Village Hall in 1975 and torn down around 1987. Today the site of the old building is home to Oak Park City Apartments.
The current Village Hall, a modernist building designed by Harry Wesse, was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 2014.
Related marker. Click here for another marker that is related to this marker. Oak Park's 1927 village celebration
Also see . . . Proceedings Leading to the Incorporation of the Village of Oak Park. The court files related to Oak Park's establishment as a unique village on January 25, 1902. (Submitted on March 28, 2025, by Sean P. Flynn of Oak Park, Illinois.)
Additional keywords. oak park village hall municipal building
Photographed by Sean Flynn, July 15, 2023
3. Oak Park's current Village Hall
The Harry Wesse-designed modernist structure was completed in 1975. It was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 2014. The Council Chambers part of the building, where the Oak Park marker can be found, is in the upper left of this photo.
The Tichnor Brothers Collection, Boston Public Library
4. Oak Park Municipal Building
Oak Park's first Municipal Building, at the corner of Lake and Euclid streets, is seen in this postcard from circa 1930-1945. The plaque would have been found to the immediate right of the door, obscured in the drawing by the pillar. Note the original Lake Street streetcar tracks in the foreground. The caption on the back of the postcard says, "Municipal Building, Oak Park; Built 1904 - Village Inc. 1901. Oak Park is one of the largest suburbs of Chicago and the shopping center of over 300,000 people."
courtesy Philander Barclay Collection, Oak Park Public Library, 1903
5. Municipal Building cornerstone laying
A group of men sit on a stage near a drawing of the Municipal Building as its cornerstone is laid in 1903.
Photographed by Sean Flynn, October 1, 2023
6. Site of Oak Park Municipal Building
The Municipal Building was torn down in 1987 and replaced by the Prairie Court Apartments (now called the Oak Park City Apartments). The chiseled "November 1903" refers to the dedication of the Municipal Building.
Credits. This page was last revised on March 28, 2025. It was originally submitted on September 25, 2023, by Sean P. Flynn of Oak Park, Illinois. This page has been viewed 593 times since then and 30 times this year. Photos: 1, 2, 3, 4. submitted on September 25, 2023, by Sean P. Flynn of Oak Park, Illinois. 5, 6. submitted on October 10, 2023, by Sean P. Flynn of Oak Park, Illinois. • Devry Becker Jones was the editor who published this page.
