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

Riverside, Illinois

Photographed by Sean P. Flynn, December 14, 2025

1. Riverside, Illinois Marker

Inscription. Designed in 1869 by Frederick Law Olmsted and Calvert Vaux, the Village of Riverside, one of the first planned suburbs in the United States, influenced much of American community design. The site, on a curve of the Des Plaines River, had been a popular way point for native peoples, early settlers, farmers, and soldiers. Spurred by the building of the Chicago Burlington & Quincy Railroad (CB&Q), developers and Olmsted chose the location for its natural beauty. Olmsted and Vaux, the most renowned landscape architects of the 19th century, created a visionary and sustainable plan that defined Riverside as a National Historic Landmark District.

The groundbreaking design for Riverside includes features that anticipated many forthcoming trends: urban overcrowding, growth of public transportation, real estate speculation, green space as a natural tonic and provision for modern infrastructure. Curving streets and sidewalks encourage a slower pace and offer changing views. Abundant greenery planted naturalistically, fosters appreciation of the outdoors diverse home styles span multiple decades, yet nature leads the way: homes are

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irregularly set back from the road, parkway trees offer screening, and few artificial ornaments interrupt natural green space. The river hugs the village and is bordered by continuous green areas amenable to wildlife and nature-lovers. Riverside residents and visitors still value riverside's core attributes of walkability, green space, curving streets, easy access to the city, and enjoyment of nature. Since its founding in 1869, these unique Riverside features have continuously influenced suburban design in America.

Erected 2025 by The Olmsted Society of Riverside; the Village of Riverside; the Illinois State Historical Society.

Topics and series. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Architecture • Indigenous Peoples and Communities • Railroads & Streetcars • Settlements & Settlers. In addition, it is included in the Illinois State Historical Society series list. A significant historical year for this entry is 1869.

Location. 41° 49.664′ N, 87° 49.196′ W. Marker is in Riverside, Illinois, in Cook County. It is at the intersection of Longcommon Road and Pine Avenue, on the right when traveling south

Riverside, Illinois Marker and Water Tower image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Sean P. Flynn, December 14, 2025

2. Riverside, Illinois Marker and Water Tower

on Longcommon Road. The marker is in front of the Riverside Water Tower. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 10 Pine Avenue, Riverside IL 60546, 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: Brookfield Zoo (a few steps from this marker); Historic Riverside (within shouting distance of this marker); a different marker also named Riverside (within shouting distance of this marker); a different marker also named Historic Riverside (within shouting distance of this marker); Private Albert Edward Moore (about 300 feet away, measured in a direct line); Reverend Hedley Heber Cooper (about 300 feet away); War Dead of World Wars I and II (about 300 feet away); Veterans Memorial

Riverside, Illinois Marker near the Riverside train station image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Sean P. Flynn, December 14, 2025

3. Riverside, Illinois Marker near the Riverside train station

(about 300 feet away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Riverside.

More about this marker. Although the marker says October 2025, the ceremonial unveiling of the marker occurred in December 2025.

Regarding Riverside, Illinois. Most of the Village of Riverside falls within the Riverside National Historic District.

Also see . . .
1. The Olmsted Society of Riverside official site.

Excerpt from the home page in Dec. 2025: “New Riverside Historic Marker: Historic Riverside, Illinois received National Landmark status in 1970, and has a robust local landmarking program. Now, its historic significance has been recognized by the Illinois State Historical Society. Since 1934, the state society has recognized more than 400 sites with national or state historical significance. Riverside now joins the list of prominent places that includes Springfield’s Old State Capitol, Lincoln’s law office, the Chicago Portage, Camp Douglas and more. Working with the Village of Riverside, the Olmsted Society of Riverside applied for the marker, and paid for its initial cost. 'It’s been a great partnership,' says Cathy Maloney,
Photographed by Sean P. Flynn, December 14, 2025

4. Riverside Water Tower
who coordinated the program for the Olmsted Society. 'The Village staff and Board of Trustees have been so receptive to the effort. Public Works helped find an ideal location and to install the sign.' The State of Illinois Historical Society, having approved the application, worked with the foundry to create the cast aluminum sign. Riverside will be added to the online state map of historical sites.”

(Submitted on December 14, 2025, by Sean P. Flynn of Oak Park, Illinois.)

2. Riverside: Frederick Law Olmsted's Illinois Masterpiece. From the Enjoy Illinois website, by the state's Office of Tourism.

Excerpt: "Throughout this fascinating village’s two square miles, you’ll discover gently curving streets, 19th century gas lamps, and tranquil parks and forests covering almost half its land area, alongside extraordinary homes designed by architectural giants such as Frank Lloyd Wright, Louis Sullivan, and William Le Baron Jenney. It’s an atmosphere that comes right from Olmsted’s original vision. He designed the town to remove the town’s residents from the stresses of modern urban life as much as possible, living in close harmony
Photographed by Sean Flynn, September 25, 2023

5. Olmsted and Vaux layout of Riverside, 1869
This marker, featuring Olmsted and Vaux's original 1869 design of Riverside's layout, is located in the pavilion at the Riverside train station.
with nature, while retaining key modern conveniences (such as a mere 20-minute train ride to downtown Chicago)."

(Submitted on December 15, 2025, by Sean P. Flynn of Oak Park, Illinois.)

3. Calvert Vaux biography. (Submitted on December 14, 2025, by Sean P. Flynn of Oak Park, Illinois.)

Downtown Riverside, 1877 image. Click for full size.

John W. Taylor, photographer; courtesy of Chicago History Museum (ICHi-007500), 1877

6. Downtown Riverside, 1877

The CB&Q depot is in the foreground.

Credits. This page was last revised on December 15, 2025. It was originally submitted on December 14, 2025, by Sean P. Flynn of Oak Park, Illinois. This page has been viewed 72 times since then and 34 times this year. Photos: 1, 2, 3, 4. submitted on December 14, 2025, by Sean P. Flynn of Oak Park, Illinois. 5. submitted on October 4, 2023, by Sean P. Flynn of Oak Park, Illinois. 6. submitted on December 14, 2025, by Sean P. Flynn of Oak Park, Illinois.