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

L. Frank Baum

Writer (1856-1919)

— Chicago Tribute —

L. Frank Baum Marker image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Sean Flynn

1. L. Frank Baum Marker

A yellow brick sidewalk leads up to this historical marker on Humboldt Boulevard.

Inscription. Lyman Frank Baum lived at 1667 North Humboldt Boulevard in 1899, when he wrote the most famous of his works, The Wonderful Wizard of Oz.

Born in Chittenango, New York, Baum worked as an actor. In 1888, he and his wife Maud moved to the Dakota Territory, where he briefly ran a general store. Soon after, he became editor and publisher of a newspaper in Aberdeen, South Dakota. In 1891, he and his family moved to Chicago. While writing for the Chicago Post, Baum worked as a traveling salesman for a glassware company and wrote books an short stories in his spare time. The success of his seventh book, The Wonderful Wizard of Oz, enabled Baum to retire from his jobs and devote himself to writing full-time.

In 1910, the Baums moved to California. A prolific author, Baum wrote more than 60 books, including Father Goose, American Fairy Tales, Dot and Tot of Merryland and over a dozen other Oz books. He also published work under the names Schuyler Staunton, Edith Van Dyne and Laura Bancroft.

Frank Baum died in his Hollywood home, which was named Ozcot, a

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week short of his 63rd birthday.

In 1976, a Chicago park was named to honor Frank Baum's mythical land of Oz. Bordering Webster and Larrabee Streets on Chicago's North Side, Oz Park serves as a lasting tribute to this imaginative man.

Erected 1997 by City of Chicago.

Topics and series. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Arts, Letters, Music • Entertainment. In addition, it is included in the Chicago Tribute series list. A significant historical year for this entry is 1899.

Location. 41° 54.732′ N, 87° 42.091′ W. Marker is in Chicago, Illinois, in Cook County. It is in Humboldt Park. It is at the intersection of North Humboldt Boulevard and West Wabansia Avenue, on the right on North Humboldt Boulevard. The marker is in front of the apartment complex that sits on the site of Buam's house. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 1667 North Humboldt Boulevard, Chicago IL 60647, United States of America. Touch for directions.

Regionally, this marker is 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: Humboldt Park (about 700 feet away, measured in a direct line); The Boulevard System (about 700 feet away);

"There's No Place Like Home" image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Sean Flynn

2. "There's No Place Like Home"

Art installation at Baum's home site, dedicated in 2020.

Logan Square Boulevards (approx. ¼ mile away); a different marker also named Logan Square Boulevards (approx. 0.4 miles away); Leif Erikson (approx. 0.4 miles away); a different marker also named Humboldt Park (approx. 0.4 miles away); a different marker also named Humboldt Park (approx. half a mile away); a different marker also named Logan Square Boulevards (approx. 0.6 miles away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Chicago.

More about this marker. Nine units of affordable housing sit on the site of Baum's house. The sidewalk in front of the home is adorned with yellow bricks, in honor of Baum's Wizard of Oz. A mural installed in 2020, titled "There's No Place Like Home," curves around the corner of the complex. It was designed by muralist Hector Duarte, whose other works include the "Ice Cream Dream" mosaic next to the Western CTA Pink Line station in the Pilsen neighborhood.

Regarding L. Frank Baum.

L. Frank Baum home site and Chicago Tribute marker image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Sean Flynn, October 14, 2023

3. L. Frank Baum home site and Chicago Tribute marker

Note the yellow-brick sidewalk, a bit more difficult than normal to see due to wet weather

Baum wrote The Wonderful Wizard of Oz while living in this home, about four blocks north of Humboldt Park. Many have suspected that the Emerald City from that book is inspired by the famed White City at the 1893 World's Columbian Exposition in Chicago.

Oz Park, mentioned on this marker, is located in the Lincoln Park neighborhood, about 3½ miles east of this marker; that park features statues dedicated to the famous Wizard of Oz characters.

Also see . . .
1. Chicago Literary Hall of Fame: L. Frank Baum.

Excerpt: "When Baum moved his family to Chicago in 1891, he was a washout as an oil tycoon, shop owner and newspaper publisher. He had dabbled, with limited success, as an actor, newspaper reporter, playwright, salesman and chicken breeder. In Chicago, living with his family on Humboldt Blvd., Baum took work as a reporter, department store window dresser and traveling chinaware salesman. Now in his forties, Baum finally found his calling: in 1897, a Chicago publisher put out his Tales from Mother Goose, and two years later Father Goose: His Book sold 60,000 copies.
Photographed by Sean Flynn

4. "There's No Place Like Home," by Hector Duarte, 2020
Then, in 1900, came The Wonderful Wizard of Oz. It is probably no coincidence that notes of The White City could be heard throughout The Emerald City, as Baum experienced the radiance of that fantastical creation at the World’s Columbia Exposition shortly after his resettlement in Chicago."

(Submitted on November 15, 2024, by Sean P. Flynn of Oak Park, Illinois.)

2. “There’s No Place Like Home” in Humboldt Park. A look at the mural and the "Yellow Brick Road" that are in front of the site of L. Frank Baum's home on Humboldt Boulevard on Chicago's west side. (Submitted on November 15, 2024, by Sean P. Flynn of Oak Park, Illinois.)

3. Britannica: The Wonderful Wizard of Oz.

Excerpt: "While The Wizard of Oz is a wonderful and exciting adventure for children—with the appealing message that people already possess what they thought they lacked—some readers believed the seemingly simple fairy tale actually explored more complex political and societal issues. Notably, the book has been seen as a feminist work. Baum’s mother-in-law was a noted advocate for women’s rights,
Chicago Historical Society, 1901

5. L. Frank Baum and His Popular Books for Children
A promotional poster for eight of Baum's earliest children's books
including suffrage, and he adopted many of her progressive causes. This influence is allegedly seen in his creation of strong female characters, and some consider Dorothy one of the first feminist heroes in children’s literature. In addition, Baum created a world that was largely matriarchal. In fact, in a later book in the series, the rightful ruler of Oz is revealed to be a girl."

(Submitted on February 21, 2025, by Sean P. Flynn of Oak Park, Illinois.)

Credits. This page was last revised on February 21, 2025. It was originally submitted on October 16, 2023, by Sean P. Flynn of Oak Park, Illinois. This page has been viewed 1,587 times since then and 127 times this year. Photos: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5. submitted on October 16, 2023, by Sean P. Flynn of Oak Park, Illinois. • Andrew Ruppenstein was the editor who published this page.