Meet us where learning looms large
It’s not often that you can learn a language or an instrument in a 9,500-square-foot mansion that looks like a castle, but that’s exactly what you can do at the International Mansion.
The International Mansion houses Oak Park’s Language and Music School in nine classrooms within a stately home in the Frank Lloyd Wright Historic District.
Known as the Hales Mansion for its original owners, Burton and Frances Hales, the home was designed in 1903 by architect Henry G. Fiddelke, the same architect who designed the childhood home of Ernest Hemingway.
Today, the sheer number of learning opportunities is just as impressive as the sheer number of rooms in the sprawling estate.
Learn to speak Spanish or French or learn to play the ukelele or the harp. Take classes in archery, dance, or soccer, or try your hand at improv or musical theater. It seems apt to take architecture classes in this historic home in a neighborhood known for its famous designers, but you can also learn to paint, draw, or act.
There are classes in audition preparation, coding, cinematography, and so much more.
In addition, Preschool and Kindergarten programs are held at the International Mansion with this bonus: the program is part of the Language and Music School’s Signature Spanish Immersion. Before and After Care programs are also available for students who need a little supervision after school (also includes the bonus of Spanish immersion).
Why not use the space in a sprawling and unused mansion?
The old Hales Mansion had been on and off the market since 2006, and Fermi and Crawford struck a dealer with the sellers in 2019. Today the home is renovated with nine classrooms that are perfect for learning.
One-on-one weekly classes are $248 for a month of learning. Preschool, Kindergarten, and Elementary School programs are about $2,000 per month.
Maria Emilia Fermi and her son, Brando Crawford, are the brains behind Oak Park’s Language and Music School. As the school grew in popularity and expanded its offerings, Fermi and Crawford needed a larger space.
The International Mansion and Oak Park’s Language and Music School are located at 509 N. Oak Park Avenue in the Frank Lloyd Wright Historic District. It’s a half-mile walk from the Oak Park stop on the Green Line of the CTA “L” or a 20-minute drive west of downtown Chicago.
