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

Mills Park Labyrinth

Photographed by Sean P. Flynn, March 27, 2025

1. Mills Park Labyrinth Marker

Inscription. 2012 CE

100th Anniversary of the Park District of Oak Park is celebrated

Mills Park Labyrinth installed

Erected 2012 by Park District of Oak Park.

Topics. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Arts, Letters, Music • Parks & Recreational Areas. A significant historical year for this entry is 2012.

Location. 41° 53.067′ N, 87° 48.126′ W. Marker is in Oak Park, Illinois, in Cook County. It is on South Marion Street 0.1 miles south of Pleasant Street, on the right when traveling north. The stone is a part of the labyrinth located on the western edge of 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 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 25

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other markers are within walking distance of this marker: Pleasant Home Foundation (here, next to this marker); Mills Estate Purchase (here, next to this marker); The Kettlestrings (here, next to this marker); First European Settlers in Illinois (here, next to this marker); Herbert S. Mills (here, next to this marker); Village of Oak Park (here, next to this marker); Pleasant Home (here, next to this marker); Potowatamie (here, next to this marker); Oak Savanna (here, next to this marker); End of the Wisconsin Ice Age (a few steps from this marker); Hunter Gatherers (a few steps from this marker); Oak Park Sand Spit (a few steps from this marker); Beginning of the Wisconsin Ice Age (a few steps from this marker); Sabre Tooth Tigers (a few steps from this marker); Mills Park and Pleasant Home (a few steps from this marker); The Age of Mammals (a few steps from this marker); Illinois Tulley Monster (within shouting distance of this marker); Amphibians (within shouting distance of this marker); Ancient Illinois Climate (within shouting distance of this marker); Cambrian Sea (within shouting distance of this marker); Volcanoes (within shouting

Mills Park labyrinth image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Sean P. Flynn, March 27, 2025

2. Mills Park labyrinth

distance of this marker); Solar System (within shouting distance of this marker); a different marker also named Mills Park and Pleasant Home (about 400 feet away, measured in a direct line); a different marker also named Mills Park and Pleasant Home (about 500 feet away); a different marker also named Mills Park and Pleasant Home (about 500 feet away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Oak Park.

More about this marker. The stone is one of about 20 pavers in Mills Park that show the history of Oak Park from the dawn of the solar system through 2012. The pavers are part of a labyrinth embedded into the ground near the western entrance into Mills Park.

Regarding Mills Park Labyrinth. The Park District of Oak Park was formed in 1912 for the purpose of acquiring the land in the center of the village that today is Scoville Park. The Mills Park/Pleasant Home property was actually one of the park district's latest purchases, occurring in 1939.

Also see . . . Park District of Oak Park history. (Submitted on March 28, 2025, by Sean P. Flynn of Oak Park, Illinois.)

Additional commentary.
1. The historical

Photographed by Sean P. Flynn, March 27, 2025

3. Mills Park labyrinth

stones in the Mills Park Labyrinth
The Labyrinth in Mills Park includes 21 stones telling the history of Oak Park from the birth of the solar system to the creation of this labyrinth. Below is a list of the labyrinth's elements in chronological order; in the park, they run roughly northeast to southwest, with the pathway ending with a stone etched with a large question mark.

• 4.7 billion years ago: Solar system
• 1.5 billion years ago: Volcanoes
• 547 million years ago: Cambrian Sea
• 445 million years ago: Ancient Illinois climate
• 400 million years ago: Amphibians
• 300 million years ago: Illinois Tully monster
• 70 million years ago: Age of mammals
• 1.8 million years ago: Saber-tooth tigers
• 110,000 years ago: Beginning of the Wisconsin Ice Age
• 10,000 BCE: Hunter gatherers
• 10,000 BCE: Oak Park Sand Spit
• 8,000 BCE: End of the Wisconsin Ice Age
• 8,000 BCE to 1850 CE: Oak Savanna
• 1600: Potowatamie "The Keepers of the Fire"
• 1699: First European settlers in Illinois
• 1833: The Kettlestrings
• 1897: Pleasant Home
• 1902: Village of Oak Park
• 1910: Herbert S. Mills
• 1939: Mills Estate
• 1990: Pleasant Home Foundation
•

Photographed by Sean P. Flynn, March 27, 2025

4. Mills Park labyrinth

A nearby historical marker says that the labyrinth's artistic style was inspired by the architect George W. Maher, who designed the Pleasant Home, located in this park.

2012: Mills Park Labyrinth

— Submitted March 31, 2025, by Sean P. Flynn of Oak Park, Illinois.

Credits. This page was last revised on March 31, 2025. It was originally submitted on March 28, 2025, by Sean P. Flynn of Oak Park, Illinois. This page has been viewed 228 times since then and 17 times this year. Photos: 1, 2. submitted on March 28, 2025, by Sean P. Flynn of Oak Park, Illinois. 3, 4. submitted on March 27, 2025, by Sean P. Flynn of Oak Park, Illinois.