Travel to Oak Park, Illinois with Bob & Wilma

The village of Oak Park, IL is just outside Chicago's inner city. It was first settled in 1835 but not until 1902 was it incorporated.

With a population of about 53,000, it is the 29th most populous town in Illinois. Twenty languages represent the ethnic diversity of Oak Park which has 60 houses of worship and a plethora of eateries.

Through the years a number of important and famous people have been born here, lived here, retired here or been buried here.

Among these notables, but far from all of them, are Edgar Rice Burroughs, Richard Sears, Betty White and the Nobel Prize winner, Ernest Hemingway, who was born here in 1899 and whose house is now a lovely museum.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

The architect, Frank Lloyd Wright, was possibly the most influential as his home designs are the hallmark of America's homes -- open and low. His home and studio are in Oak Park and are open to the public.

 

 

 

 

 

 

A number of the homes he designed are also in Oak Park as is Unity Temple. Many of Wright's houses are within easy walking distance of each other as are some fine eateries.