Oak Park
Ernest Hemingway’s Birthplace Museum | 339 North Oak Park Avenue, Oak Park, IL
The ideal starting point for exploring the origins of the author's life and work is the house where Ernest Hemingway was born. Built in 1890 by his maternal grandparents, the home where he spent the first six years of his life was one of the first residences in Oak Park to have electricity. A comprehensive restoration began in 1992, preserving many of its original features. Knowledgeable docents share stories about young Ernest and his family.
Date(s): Thursdays through Sundays
Tour Type: Walking
Time: 1:00 p.m. to 5:00 p.m. on Thursdays, Fridays, and Sundays; 10:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. on Saturdays
(Note: Tours begin at the top of each hour, and the last tour starts at 4:00 p.m.)
Admission: $20 ($18 seniors and students)
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Frank Lloyd Wright Home and Studio Tours | 951 Chicago Avenue, Oak Park, IL
Frank Lloyd Wright’s first home and studio, where he lived and worked between 1889 and 1909, marked the beginning of an architectural revolution. Here, Wright and his associates developed the school of American architecture known as the Prairie style. There are two tour options available: One focuses solely on the interior of the home and studio, while the other includes a self-guided audio walking tour of the surrounding neighborhood, which boasts the greatest concentration of Wright-designed residences worldwide.
Date(s): Everyday
Tour Type: Walking
Time: 10:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m.
Admission: $24-$38
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Pedal Oak Park | 951 Chicago Avenue, Oak Park, IL
Enjoy a leisurely two-hour bike ride through the tree-lined streets of a neighborhood where nearly 30 buildings were designed by Frank Lloyd Wright. Bring your bike, or one can be provided (included in tour admission) at the Frank Lloyd Wright Home and Studio. Sites featured on this tour include Wright’s home and studio, the Frank W. Thomas House, the Arthur Heurtley House, and the Edwin H. Cheney House.
Date(s): Saturdays and Sundays, June through October
Tour Type: Biking
Time: 9:30 a.m.
Admission: $55 ($45 Frank Lloyd Wright Trust members)
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Oak Park River Forest Museum | 129 Lake Street, Oak Park, IL
The villages of Oak Park and River Forest are full of fascinating stories about the people who once walked their streets, and the Oak Park River Forest Museum brings this history to life. Housed in a 125-year-old Oak Park landmark built as a firehouse, the museum hosts exhibits and programs. In addition, museum docents lead a variety of guided sidewalk tours:.
- Ridgeland Ramble | July 12, 2025, 10:00 a.m. to 11:30 a.m.
- West Side Stories | July 26, 2025, 10:00 a.m. to 11:30 a.m.
- Then and Now: Central Oak Park | August 17, 2025, 10:00 a.m. to 11:30 p.m.
- Ladies of Lake Street | August 23, 2025, 10:00 a.m. to 11:30 p.m.
Visit OPRFMuseum.org to view the complete schedule and reserve your spot.
Unity Temple | 875 Lake Street, Oak Park, IL
The oldest Frank Lloyd Wright building still in use for its original purpose, Unity Temple is one of the most sophisticated accomplishments of Wright’s early career and stands today as a masterpiece of modern architecture and design. Three separate tours are offered: a self-guided tour of the interior, a regular guided interior tour, and an in-depth interior tour.
Date(s): Mondays through Saturdays
Tour Type: Walking
Time: 9:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. on Monday-Friday, and 9 a.m. to noon on Saturdays
Location: Unity Temple
Admission: $18-$40
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Wright Around Oak Park | 951 Chicago Avenue, Oak Park, IL
The most comprehensive Frank Lloyd Wright tour in Oak Park, Wright Around Oak Park is tailored for a group of no more than 10 participants. Begin your two-and-a-half-hour customized tour with an in-depth look at Wright’s home and studio, the birthplace of his vision for a new American architecture; unlike on the standard tour, here you can enjoy exclusive access to the studio balcony. Then discover the evolution of Wright’s architectural design philosophy by observing the exteriors of the neighborhood’s beautifully preserved Prairie-style homes.
Date(s): Fridays, Saturdays, and Sundays, April through September
Tour Type: Walking
Time: Noon
Admission: $75 ($65 Frank Lloyd Wright Trust members)
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Berwyn
Oak Park & River Forest Gangster Tour | 6615 West Roosevelt Road, Berwyn, IL (FitzGerald’s)
Did you know that beyond the charming streets of Oak Park and River Forest lies a hidden history of notorious gangsters and illicit activities? This two-and-a-half-hour luxury-bus journey—no walking involved—takes you into the world of organized crime in Chicago, from Prohibition to the 1990s.
Visit the exteriors of 13 homes once owned by prominent Chicago gangsters, including Tony Accardo, Paul Ricca, Sam Giancana, “Tough Tony” Capezio, and “Machine Gun Jack” McGurn, and learn about secret tunnels, hidden rooms, and other interesting features of each home, as well as about gangland murders and other goings-on.
Dates: Sundays
Tour Type: Bus
Time: 11:00 a.m. and 2:00 p.m.
Admission: $40
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La Grange
La Grange Area Historical Society | 444 South La Grange Road, La Grange, IL
Immerse yourself in the history and the architecture of the village of La Grange at the annual La Grange Area Historical Society Home and History Tour. Tour six unique historic residences, where homeowners will be available to answer questions and share their experiences living in their homes. Get your tickets in advance—prices will increase on the day of the event.
Date(s): September 14, 2025
Tour Type: Walking
Time: noon to 5:00 p.m.
Admission: $50 ($45 for members)
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Riverside
Olmsted Society Tours of Riverside | BNSF Riverside Station, 90 Bloomingbank Road, Riverside, IL
In 1868, landscape architect Frederick Law Olmsted and his partner Calvert Vaux, widely known for New York’s Central Park—and later, the grounds for Chicago’s 1893 World’s Fair—were commissioned to plan a unique community just west of Chicago.
The result was Riverside, along the Des Plaines River. Olmsted’s vision of the ideal suburb along the Des Plaines River, complete with curving roads, abundant greenery, and a charming village center. Considered one of the country’s first planned suburbs, Riverside was designated a National Historic Landmark in 1970.
Today people are drawn not only to its flowing landscape but also for its rich architectural history, featuring homes by renowned architects such as Frank Lloyd Wright, William LeBaron Jenney, and Howard Van Doren Shaw, and its fascinating, sometimes notorious, residents of years past.
The Frederick Law Olmsted Society offers monthly two-hour walking tours that depart at 2:00 p.m. from the main Riverside Train Station. The admission fee is $25 per person ($20 for seniors and Olmsted Society members).
Visit OlmstedSociety.org to view the complete schedule and reserve your spot.
While You’re in Town
Wondering what to do after experiencing the fascinating history of Oak Park and beyond? Don’t worry, we’ve got you covered! Discover the many activities available in these charming suburbs.
Visit OakParkandBeyond.org for ideas to inspire your exploration.
