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

Pleasant Home Foundation

Photographed by Sean P. Flynn, March 27, 2025

1. Pleasant Home Foundation Marker

Inscription. 1990 CE

Pleasant Home Foundation is established.

The population of Oak Park is around 53,600.

Erected 2012 by Park District of Oak Park.

Topics. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Charity & Public Work • Parks & Recreational Areas. A significant historical year for this entry is 1990.

Location. 41° 53.068′ N, 87° 48.126′ W. Marker is in Oak Park, Illinois, in Cook County. It is on South Marion Street near Pleasant Street. The stone is a part of a labyrinth located on the western edge of Mills Park. Touch for map. Marker is in this post office area: 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: Mills Estate Purchase

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(here, next to this marker); Mills Park Labyrinth (here, next to this marker); Herbert S. Mills (here, next to this marker); Village of Oak Park (here, next to this marker); The Kettlestrings (here, next to this marker); First European Settlers in Illinois (here, next to this marker); Pleasant Home (here, next to this marker); Potowatamie (here, next to this marker). 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 Pleasant Home Foundation. Pleasant Home is the mansion that sits in the northeast corner of Mills Park; designed by George W. Maher, it was acquired along with surrounding parkland (which became Mills Park) by the Park District of Oak Park in 1939.

The independent Pleasant Home Foundation partnered with the Park District on restoration and repair as well as promoting the home to visitors. In 2023, the foundation became part of the George W.

Mills Park labyrinth image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Sean P. Flynn, March 27, 2025

2. Mills Park labyrinth

Maher Society. On Dec. 31 of that year, the foundation officially ended its partnership with the park district after disagreements between the two groups about restoration work conducted by the Park District.

Related marker. Click here for another marker that is related to this marker. The Mills Park Labyrinth marker page includes a list of all 21 stones in the labyrinth in chronological order

Also see . . .
1. Pleasant Home official site. (Submitted on March 28, 2025, by Sean P. Flynn of Oak Park, Illinois.)
2. George W. Maher Society official site. (Submitted on March 28, 2025, by Sean P. Flynn of Oak Park, Illinois.)

Photographed by Sean P. Flynn, March 27, 2025

3. Mills Park labyrinth

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.

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 83 times since then and 12 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.