Tinley Park in Cook County, Illinois — The American Midwest (Great Lakes)
"Old Zion" Landmark
6727 174th Street
Photographed by Sean P. Flynn, March 15, 2026
1. "Old Zion" Landmark Marker
This building served as the second Zion Lutheran church. The congregation's first permanent church was a former one-room schoolhouse, which had been moved from the area of Batchelor's Grove in the 1870s onto the Village of Bremen "Markt Platz" (Market Place), across the street from the present church structure. The old structure was later used for both church and public school. In 1884, local residents, including carpenters John Klepper, sr. and Jacob Funk, built this church in the "Prairie gothic" style. The stained glass bible window above the front door was added in 1912. The walls and ceiling of the sanctuary were finished with decorative pressed metal sheeting in 1920. The tall gothic stained glass windows on the front and side walls were installed in 1938, replacing earlier opaque and original clear glass panes. In 1955, the Zion Lutheran congregation moved to a location at 171st and 69th Avenue and this church was sold to the Church of Christ (now Parkview Christian Church). Through efforts of the Tinley Park Bicentennial Commission, the building was acquired for the Tinley Park Historical Society in 1975. A museum of local history is contained in a 1959 addition to the rear of original church.
Topics and series. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Architecture • Arts, Letters, Music • Education • Religion & Religious Structures. In addition, it is included in the The Spirit of 76, Americas Bicentennial Celebration series list. A significant historical year for this entry is 1884.
Location. 41° 34.491′ N, 87° 46.901′ W. Marker is in Tinley Park, Illinois, in Cook County. It is on 174th Street 0.1 miles east of 67th Court, on the right when traveling east. The
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Regionally, this marker is in Greater Chicago. It is also in the American Midwest. Globally, it is in North America, on the Great Lakes, in the Western Hemisphere, in the Western World, and in 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: Vogt Visual Arts Center (about 500 feet away, measured in a direct line); Weber/Hoogervorst/Erwin Home (about 500 feet away); The Carl Vogt Building (about 800 feet away); Tinley Park Volunteer Fire Department (about 800 feet away); J.W. Hollstein's (approx. 0.2 miles away); Andres Block (approx. 0.2 miles away); Columbia Hotel/Funk's Tavern (approx. 0.2 miles away); Brueggemann House (approx. 0.2 miles away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Tinley Park.
Also
Photographed by Sean P. Flynn, March 15, 2026
2. "Old Zion" Landmark Marker
The address to the left of the door uses the church's original address when it sat at Tinley Park's "Market Platz."
1. Landmark Church, Museum & Schoolhouse. From the Tinley Park Park District
Excerpt: "The Tinley Park Historical Society was organized in 1974 to preserve and document the heritage of Tinley Park and its surrounding areas. The Old Zion Lutheran Church, a prairie gothic style frame structure built in 1884, was acquired as its home. Now known simply as The Landmark, it has been the center of the history of Tinley Park, and its surrounding area(Submitted on March 16, 2026, by Sean P. Flynn of Oak Park, Illinois.)
2. Tinley Park Historic Site Markers. From the village's official website. (Submitted on March 16, 2026, by Sean P. Flynn of Oak Park, Illinois.)
Photographed by Sean P. Flynn, March 15, 2026
3. Tinley Park Historical Society Museum
Photographed by Sean P. Flynn, March 15, 2026
4. "Old Zion"
Photographed by Sean P. Flynn, March 15, 2026
5. Thomas W. Moss gravestone
According to news reports (including the 2020 article in the Daily Southtown linked below), this grave marker for Thomas W. Moss was moved from Bachelor's Grove Cemetery, a now-defunct burial ground that sits within a Cook County Forest Preserve a few miles north of here. According to the gravestone, he was born on February 17, 1811, and died on March 11, 1885.
Click for more information.
Click for more information.
Credits. This page was last revised on March 16, 2026. It was originally submitted on March 16, 2026, by Sean P. Flynn of Oak Park, Illinois. This page has been viewed 16 times since then. Photos: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5. submitted on March 16, 2026, by Sean P. Flynn of Oak Park, Illinois.
