Oak Park in Cook County, Illinois — The American Midwest (Great Lakes)
Oak Park Sand Spit
Photographed by Sean P. Flynn, March 27, 2025
1. Oak Park Sand Spit Marker
10,000 BCE
Glaciers create Oak Park Sand Spit
This ridge running through Taylor, Scoville and Mills Parks was the shoreline of ancient Lake Chicago
Erected 2012 by Park District of Oak Park.
Topics. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Parks & Recreational Areas • Science & Medicine.
Location. 41° 53.071′ N, 87° 48.12′ 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 ParkThe 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
this page online
Other nearby markers. At least 25 other markers are within walking distance of this marker: Hunter Gatherers (here, next to this marker); Beginning of the Wisconsin Ice Age (here, next to this marker); End of the Wisconsin Ice Age (here, next to this marker); Oak Savanna (here, next to this marker); Sabre Tooth Tigers (here, next to this marker); Potowatamie (here, next to this marker); The Age of Mammals (a few steps from this marker); First European Settlers in Illinois (a few steps from this marker); Pleasant Home Foundation (a few steps from this marker); Mills Park Labyrinth (a few steps from this marker); Mills Estate Purchase (a few steps from this marker); The Kettlestrings (a few steps from this marker); Illinois Tulley Monster (a few steps from this marker); Herbert S. Mills (a few steps from this marker); Village of Oak Park (a few steps from this marker); Amphibians (a few steps from this marker); Pleasant Home (a few steps from this marker); Mills Park and Pleasant Home (a few steps from this marker); Ancient Illinois Climate (a few
Photographed by Sean P. Flynn, March 27, 2025
2. Mills Park labyrinth
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 Oak Park Sand Spit. The high land created by this sand spit was historically a continental divide between the St. Lawrence River and Mississippi River basins. The creation of the Illinois & Michigan Canal in the 1800s and later the Chicago Sanitary and Ship Canal connected these two basins.
Five markers in Oak Park are devoted to this continental divide, including
Photographed by Sean P. Flynn, March 27, 2025
3. Mills Park labyrinth
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 . . . The Continental Divide in Oak Park. From the Oak Park River Forest Museum (Submitted on March 28, 2025, by Sean P. Flynn of Oak Park, Illinois.)
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 205 times since then and 29 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.
