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

Hello

Photographed by Sean P. Flynn, April 22, 2026

1. Hello Marker

Inscription. The first person to popularize the use of the word hello was Thomas Edison

Erected 2016 by Oak Park Education Foundation.

Topics. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Arts, Letters, Music • Science & Medicine.

Location. 41° 53.242′ N, 87° 46.78′ W. Marker is in Oak Park, Illinois, in Cook County. It is on North Lombard Avenue north of South Boulevard, on the right when traveling north. The words are painted to the side of the train tunnel, near the Oak Park Pumping Station. 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:

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The Telephone (a few steps from this marker); Communications (a few steps from this marker); The First Computer Chip (within shouting distance of this marker); OPRF Museum (within shouting distance of this marker); Maria Sklodowska-Curie (about 500 feet away, measured in a direct line); Gold Star Men of the World War (about 500 feet away); St. James Apartments (approx. ¼ mile away); 209 N. Humphrey Ave. (approx. ¼ mile away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Oak Park.

More about this marker. While there are articles about other history-related murals erected by Oak Park Education Foundation summer campers in Oak Park train tunnels, one specifically about this set on the east side of the Lombard Avenue viaduct could not be found. That said, based on archived Google Street View photos, this mural appears to have been painted in the summer of 2016.

The mural includes the word "Hello" in about a dozen different languages.

Also see . . . A (Shockingly) Short History of 'Hello'. From "Krulwich Wonders..." on the NPR website.

Excerpt: "The Oxford English Dictionary says the first published use of 'hello' goes
Photographed by Sean P. Flynn, April 22, 2026

2. Mural inside train tunnel
back only to 1827. And it wasn't mainly a greeting back then. Ammon says people in the 1830's said hello to attract attention ('Hello, what do you think you're doing?'), or to express surprise ('Hello, what have we here?'). Hello didn't become 'hi' until the telephone arrived.

(Submitted on April 23, 2026, by Sean P. Flynn of Oak Park, Illinois.)

Lombard Avenue train tunnel image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Sean P. Flynn, April 22, 2026

3. Lombard Avenue train tunnel

The mural with the information about "Hello" is on the left.

Credits. This page was last revised on April 23, 2026. It was originally submitted on April 23, 2026, by Sean P. Flynn of Oak Park, Illinois. This page has been viewed 14 times since then. Photos: 1, 2, 3. submitted on April 23, 2026, by Sean P. Flynn of Oak Park, Illinois.