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

Maria Sklodowska-Curie

Photographed by Sean P. Flynn, March 20, 2026

1. Maria Sklodowska-Curie Marker

Inscription.
Born November 7, 1867
Warsaw, Poland

Also known as Manya

Secretly attended floating university

[Names on family tree:]
Wladislaw and Bronislava Sklodowska
Josef • Maria • Bronyo • Hela • Zosia

[Next to image of Sorbonne:]
Graduated 1st in her class

Discovered 1898
Polonium & Radium
PO⁸⁴
Polonium-209 Named after Poland

Ra
Radium 226
Radium is refined from huge amounts of Pitchblende

Nobel Prizes
1903 Physics—Work on Radioactivity Joint with Henri Becquerel & Pierre Curie
1911 Chemistry—Discovery of Radium & Polonium

October 1914
Petite Curies
20 portable X-ray vehicles used in WWI

[Beneath Radium Institute image:]
1900 Curie Therapy
Nothing in life is to be found it is only to be understood. -Marie Curie

Topics. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Arts, Letters, Music • Science & Medicine • War, World I • Women. A significant historical date for this entry is November 7, 1867.

Location. 41° 53.231′ N, 87° 46.891′ W. Marker is in Oak Park, Illinois, in Cook County. It is at the intersection of Harvey Avenue and South Boulevard, on the right when traveling south on

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Harvey Avenue. The text is painted to the wall on the west side of the tunnel beneath the train tracks. 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: The First Computer Chip (about 500 feet away, measured in a direct line); Communications (about 500 feet away); Hello (about 500 feet away); The Telephone (about 500 feet away); OPRF Museum (about 600 feet away); Gold Star Men of the World War (approx. 0.2 miles away); Ridgeland School (approx. ¼ mile away); Oak Park Spanish-American War Memorial (approx. ¼ mile away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Oak Park.

Maria Sklodowska-Curie Marker, part 2 image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Sean P. Flynn, March 20, 2026

2. Maria Sklodowska-Curie Marker, part 2

Maria Sklodowska-Curie Marker, part 3 image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Sean P. Flynn, March 20, 2026

3. Maria Sklodowska-Curie Marker, part 3

Maria Sklodowska-Curie Marker, part 4 image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Sean P. Flynn, March 20, 2026

4. Maria Sklodowska-Curie Marker, part 4

Maria Sklodowska-Curie Marker, part 5 image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Sean P. Flynn, March 20, 2026

5. Maria Sklodowska-Curie Marker, part 5

Maria Sklodowska-Curie marker beneath "L" tracks in Oak Park image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Sean P. Flynn, March 20, 2026

6. Maria Sklodowska-Curie marker beneath "L" tracks in Oak Park

Credits. This page was last revised on March 23, 2026. It was originally submitted on March 23, 2026, by Sean P. Flynn of Oak Park, Illinois. This page has been viewed 10 times since then. Photos: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6. submitted on March 23, 2026, by Sean P. Flynn of Oak Park, Illinois.