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Oak Park is a village of about 54,000 people on the western edge of Chicago, about nine miles from the Loop. It is famous as the place where Frank Lloyd Wright lived and worked for his first 20 years as an architect, and the village has the largest collection of his buildings anywhere, along with many other Prairie School homes. It is also the birthplace of writer Ernest Hemingway.
Visitors start at the Frank Lloyd Wright Home and Studio, then walk the tree-lined streets of the Frank Lloyd Wright-Prairie School of Architecture Historic District past dozens of private homes. Unity Temple, Wright's concrete masterpiece of 1908, is part of a UNESCO World Heritage listing. The Hemingway Birthplace Museum, Pleasant Home and Cheney Mansion add more history, and the Oak Park Conservatory offers a warm escape in winter.
The village has lively shopping along Lake Street and Oak Park Avenue, with independent stores, restaurants and the classic Petersen's ice cream shop. Two CTA lines and Metra make it an easy trip from downtown Chicago.
The house Frank Lloyd Wright built in 1889 and the studio he added in 1898, where he developed the Prairie style and trained young architects. Guided tours show the playroom, drafting room and many original designs. Tours sell out on weekends, so book online in advance.
A Unitarian church Frank Lloyd Wright designed in 1905 in poured concrete, now a National Historic Landmark and part of a UNESCO World Heritage listing. The light-filled sanctuary with its art glass skylights is striking. Guided and self-guided tours are offered; it is still an active congregation.
A 1902 Frank Lloyd Wright house on Forest Avenue, often called one of the first true Prairie style homes, with low brick walls, broad eaves and banded windows. It is a private residence, so admire it from the sidewalk. It sits on the most famous stretch of the Wright architecture walk.
A historic district of tree-lined streets with dozens of homes by Frank Lloyd Wright and other Prairie School architects, including the Heurtley, Moore and Cheney houses. Most are private, so view from the sidewalk. Pick up a map or audio tour at the Home and Studio before you start.
The Queen Anne house where Ernest Hemingway was born in 1899, restored to show his early childhood with family furnishings, photographs and letters. Guided tours share stories of his Oak Park years. Hours are limited, so check before you go, and see his boyhood home nearby from the street.
A large 1897 Prairie School mansion designed by George W. Maher for investor John Farson, with 30 rooms, art glass, carved woodwork and furnishings designed for the house. Guided tours explain its role in architecture history. It sits in Mills Park, which is nice for a short walk.
An English manor-style home built in 1913 and set on two acres of gardens, now run by the Park District of Oak Park. The house hosts tours, events and weddings, and the grounds are lovely in summer. Check the schedule for open house days, as it is often booked for private events.
A historic 1929 glass conservatory with three showrooms of desert plants, tropical plants and ferns, plus a koi pond and seasonal flower shows. It is a warm, quiet escape in the Chicago winter and a good stop with children. Admission is by donation; check hours before visiting.
A small hands-on children's museum for young children, with play areas for building, art, pretend play and a stage. It is a good rainy-day stop for families touring the village. Sessions can fill up, so reserve a time slot online and bring socks for the play spaces.
The main shopping street of downtown Oak Park, with independent boutiques, bookshops, cafes, restaurants and the historic Lake Theatre movie house. It is close to the Harlem/Lake CTA station. Combine it with a stop at Petersen's ice cream on Chicago Avenue after an architecture tour.
A long-running Saturday morning market held from late spring to fall in the lot of Pilgrim Church, with Midwest farmers selling produce, flowers, baked goods and local foods. The fresh doughnuts are a tradition. Go early for the best selection, as popular stalls sell out by late morning.
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