Oak Park in Cook County, Illinois — The American Midwest (Great Lakes)
The Telephone
Photographed by Sean P. Flynn, April 22, 2026
1. The Telephone Marker
1973: First mobile phone
1996: Flip phone
2009: Slide keyboard phone; Android
Topics. This historical marker is listed in this topic list: Communications. A significant historical year for this entry is 1973.
Location. 41° 53.233′ N, 87° 46.777′ W. Marker is in Oak Park, Illinois, in Cook County. It is on Lombard Avenue near South Boulevard, on the right when traveling north. The mural is on the east side 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 (here, next to this marker); Hello (a few steps from this marker); The First Computer Chip (a few steps from this
this page online
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.
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 8 times since then. Photo 1. submitted on April 23, 2026, by Sean P. Flynn of Oak Park, Illinois.
