Val's halla Records

Take the stress out of planning with this guided tour of three Oak Park attractions! Includes the Oak Park Conservatory, Pleasant Home, and Cheney Mansion.

Visit an earthen public art installation in Schiller Woods. An effigy mound in Schiller Park honors the indigenous communities who first called this area home.

A powerful monument in the cemetery where most of the defendants of the Haymarket Affair are buried. Come to Forest Park to honor America’s labor history.

Oak Park’s The Language and Music School is housed in a 9,500-square-foot mansion in the Frank Lloyd Wright Historic District. Learn to play the ukulele in style!

This public pool in Maywood is named for civil rights activist Fred Hampton who lobbied for the non-segregated public recreation space in his hometown.

Tour the cemeteries of Forest Park where laborers and martyrs are buried. Explore a haunting history and learn about Native American burial grounds.

Guides from the Historical Society of Oak Park and River Forest will walk you through the neighborhoods and down streets that have a story to tell.

A humble stone at the Mount Carmel Cemetery in Hillside marks the final resting place for legendary Chicago mobster and bootlegger Al Capone.

Learn all about the history of Riverside and the famed architects who designed it in this museum within the historic water tower.

Seven self-guided walking tours organized by the La Grange Historical Society allow you to immerse yourself in the history and architecture of the village.

When Route 66 paved its historic way from downtown Chicago to Santa Monica Pier, it changed the landscape of Berwyn where four kiosks describe the impact.

On a quiet corner in Maywood, an unassuming inn once secretly housed people escaping slavery. A memorial is erected where the safe house once stood.

Stroll through the streets where a legendary architect lived, worked, and designed. This neighborhood in Oak Park boasts Wright-designed structures on every block!

A cemetery in Hillside where mobsters, bishops, and legends are laid to rest. Wander the beautiful grounds in a self-guided tour that is both peaceful and intriguing.

The first train station for Brookfield is now a beautifully restored building and museum that stands across the train tracks from its original location.

The first public museum in Maywood, the multi-faceted exhibits here explore the history of the Black American experience in the western suburbs.

​​The most comprehensive offering from the Frank Lloyd Wright Trust, this 2.5-hour guided walking tour includes the architect's home and studio, as well as 10 Wright-designed homes.

A 30-room marvel of early Prairie School-style architecture with a rich history that earns this home a spot on the National Historic Landmark roster.

A restored Italianate-style, two-story home in River Grove is now a free museum! Come see how life was lived in Illinois in the second half of the 19th century.

A historical home in La Grange that houses the area’s museum and an archive. It’s here where the cultural heritage of La Grange and La Grange Park is preserved.

A historic district in La Grange with 1,000 buildings that were built after the railway boom reached the area. Stroll streets lined with historic homes!

Legends and myths abound in Hillside cemeteries. Wander the 886 acres of Queen of Heaven and Mount Carmel cemeteries to pay tribute to legendary lives.

Played with no gloves and a 16-inch ball, this sport is unique to the Chicago area. Learn about the history of the game at the Hall of Fame in Forest Park.

The Fredrick Law Olmsted Society offers regular monthly tours. Come see the preservation of Olmsted’s vision for Riverside and catch a glimpse of his concern for humanity, nature, community, and the innovative and thoughtful essence of his work.

Take the stress out of planning with this guided tour of three Oak Park attractions! Includes the Oak Park Conservatory, Pleasant Home, and Cheney Mansion.

Visit an earthen public art installation in Schiller Woods. An effigy mound in Schiller Park honors the indigenous communities who first called this area home.

A powerful monument in the cemetery where most of the defendants of the Haymarket Affair are buried. Come to Forest Park to honor America’s labor history.

Oak Park’s The Language and Music School is housed in a 9,500-square-foot mansion in the Frank Lloyd Wright Historic District. Learn to play the ukulele in style!