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

Edgar Rice Burroughs

Photographed by Sean P. Flynn, November 27, 2024

1. Edgar Rice Burroughs Marker

Inscription. In this home resided Edgar Rice Burroughs
Master of the adventure story and pioneer in the field of science fiction writing, creator of Tarzan of the Apes and John Carter of Mars.
Resident of Oak Park 1910-1919
Placed to mark the centennial of his birth
September 1, 1875-1975

Erected 1975 by Historical Society of Oak Park and River Forest.

Topics. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Arts, Letters, Music • Notable Buildings • Science & Medicine. A significant historical date for this entry is September 1, 1875.

Location. 41° 53.895′ N, 87° 47.53′ W. Marker is in Oak Park, Illinois, in Cook County. It is at the intersection of Augusta Street and Linden Avenue, on the right when traveling west on Augusta Street. The marker is near the southwest corner of the property, a yard or so from the fence around the home. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 700 Linden 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 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: Roberta "Bobbie" Raymond (approx. ¼ mile away); Continental Divide (approx. ¼ mile away); Ernest Hemingway Boyhood Home (approx. 0.3 miles away); Edgar Rice Burroughs House (approx. 0.3 miles away);

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Taylor Park (approx. 0.4 miles away); Henry A. Taylor (approx. 0.4 miles away); Birthplace of Ernest Hemingway (approx. 0.4 miles away); Mann Elementary (approx. half a mile away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Oak Park.

More about this marker. This plaque at 700 Linden was unveiled on September 28, 1975. According to contemporary newspaper articles, the plaque dedication was the final part of Oak Park’s three-day celebration of Burroughs’ 100th birthday, which was centered on a Tarzan theme. The festival included among other events a gymnastics competition to select a Tarzan, Jane and Boy; a viewing of the 1932 movie Tarzan the Ape Man; and a Tarzan yell contest. The ceremony at 1:30 p.m. in front of this home on Linden Avenue was followed at Oak Park River Forest High School by a lecture from a pop culture expert.

Another marker dedicated to Burroughs can be found in front of his other Oak Park home, about five blocks east of here at 414 Augusta. It is believed to have been placed there sometime in the 1990s.

Regarding Edgar Rice Burroughs. Edgar Rice Burroughs worked in a series of low-wage

Photographed by Sean P. Flynn, November 27, 2024

2. Edgar Rice Burroughs Marker

jobs before he began writing fiction around 1911. After the success of his first two Tarzan books, Burroughs acquired a home at 414 Augusta in Oak Park. He moved to this house, about a half-mile west, around 1917. Many of his earliest works were written during his Oak Park years, including parts of his John Carter series. Around 1919, he acquired a ranch north of Los Angeles called Tarzana, and he spent most of the rest of his life living in California. He died in 1950 and is buried in Tarzana.

Also see . . .
1. Edgar Rice Burroughs. The Historical Society of Oak Park and River Forest looks at the life of Edgar Rice Burroughs. A native of Chicago, Burroughs lived in Oak Park for about 10 years.

Excerpt: "Burroughs also wrote 22 subsequent books including the "John Carter of Mars" books while living in Oak Park. He left Oak Park for the warmth of California and Hollywood, which had embraced Tarzan and would immortalize him in film."

(Submitted on November 27, 2024, by Sean P. Flynn of Oak Park, Illinois.)

2. Edgar Rice Burroughs Inc. Burroughs established this eponymous holding company in 1923 as the owner of the rights to his works. The company is still operated by the Burroughs family and owns the rights to his works whose copyrights have not yet expired. The website includes a list of dozens of

Edgar Rice Burroughs home (700 Linden, Oak Park) image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Sean P. Flynn, November 27, 2024

3. Edgar Rice Burroughs home (700 Linden, Oak Park)

Burroughs lived in this house in 1918-1919. The historical marker is off camera to the left.

titles and logos whose copyrights are still owned by the company. (Submitted on November 28, 2024, by Sean P. Flynn of Oak Park, Illinois.)

Cover of <i>A Princess of Mars</i> image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Wikimedia Commons, 1917

4. Cover of A Princess of Mars

Burroughs’s first John Carter book was written while he lived in this home in Oak Park.

Credits. This page was last revised on November 28, 2024. It was originally submitted on November 27, 2024, by Sean P. Flynn of Oak Park, Illinois. This page has been viewed 276 times since then and 43 times this year. Photos: 1, 2, 3, 4. submitted on November 27, 2024, by Sean P. Flynn of Oak Park, Illinois.