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

The First Computer Chip

Photographed by Sean P. Flynn, April 22, 2026

1. The First Computer Chip Marker

Inscription. The first computer chip was made in 1958 by Jack Kilby

Erected 2016 by Oak Park Education Foundation.

Topics. This historical marker is listed in this topic list: Science & Medicine. A significant historical year for this entry is 1958.

Location. 41° 53.222′ N, 87° 46.782′ W. Marker is in Oak Park, Illinois, in Cook County. It is at the intersection of Lombard Avenue and South Boulevard, on the right when traveling north on Lombard Avenue. The mural is on the east wall of the train tunnel. 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: Communications (a few steps from this marker); The Telephone

Paid Advertisement

Click or scan to see
this page online

(a few steps from this marker); Hello (within shouting distance of this marker); OPRF Museum (about 400 feet away, measured in a direct line); Maria Sklodowska-Curie (about 500 feet away); Gold Star Men of the World War (about 600 feet away); St. James Apartments (approx. ¼ mile away); Ridgeland School (approx. 0.3 miles 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.

Also see . . . Jack Kilby autobiography. Kilby wrote this autobiography when he was awarded the Nobel Prize for Physics in 2000. It is reprinted on the Nobel Prize website.

Excerpt: "I’ve reached the age where young people frequently ask for my advice. All I can really say is that electronics is a fascinating field that I continue to find fulfilling. The field is
Photographed by Sean P. Flynn, April 22, 2026

2. Mural inside train tunnel
still growing rapidly, and the opportunities that are ahead are at least as great as they were when I graduated from college. My advice is to get involved and get started."

(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 15 times since then. Photos: 1, 2, 3. submitted on April 23, 2026, by Sean P. Flynn of Oak Park, Illinois.