1950s Park Forest House Museum Park Forest, Illinois

Mailing Address

141 Forest Blvd, Corner of Forest and Fir
Park Forest, IL 60466

Street Address       View Yahoo map

141 Forest Blvd, Corner of Forest and Fir
Park Forest, IL 60466

Web: www.parkforesthistory.org

Museum Hours

Saturdays 1-3 p.m., or by appointment. Tours for schools and small groups can be arranged. Closed January, except by appointment.

Admissions

Donation of $5 for adults;
children 12 and under are free with a paying adult.

Description

The 1950s Park Forest House Museum commemorates the "pioneers" of Park Forest--the residents who moved here during the first five years. In an original rental townhome, it is furnished as it might have been from 1948-1953. Park Forest was the first fully-planned, post World War II suburb, and is studied around the world.

Contents of the museum include artwork by Park Forest artists, books records, toys, clothes, dishes and glassware, apppliances and furniture. Visiting the house museum is a trip down Memory Lane, with special appeal for Baby Boomers, their parents and families--but people of all ages enjoy seeing it and reminiscing. It is a hands-on museum, with surprises in every drawer. Seasonal and holiday touches are added with a tree and period decorations during December. Photographs and sales brochures from the archives are on display.

The museum is decorated as a home, with one room featuring a classroom similar to those of the rental unit schools, Forest Boulevard School and Juniper School, set up by the developers before the actual schools were built and then used for extra classroom space.

A docent is on duty to tell how the Village of Park Forest was planned and built by American Community Builders and to describe the contents of the house, along with social and fashion trends in the early 1950s.

Don Snider of Star Publications, has described the museum as "A well-planned blast to the past"..."authentic" and he also said, "the museum has become a repository of Park Forest history, and one of the best examples of 1950s era furnishings and memorabilia."

History

The museum began in Fall 1998 as part of the 50th Anniversary of Park Forest--hence its original name, the 50th Anniversary House Museum. Intended to be open only for two months, it was included in the League of Woman Voters' annual House Walk in October 1998. It was set up by the 50th Anniversary Committee, the League and was provided rent and utilities free by David Clapper and Atlantic Asssociates who own ThornCreek Townhomes development. Residents provided a number of the furnishings, but some wonderful period pieces were bought from used furniture stores. It all came together so nicely, that it was eventually decided that the museum would remain open. When the 50th Anniversary Committee was dissolved in 1999, the Park Forest Historical Society assumed responsibility for it. The society has been in existence since 1985.

Artifacts Collections

The museum is full of furniture and household items common to homes in the early 1950s that our residents would have owned. There is artwork, books, records, toys, clothes--including golashes, aprons, and cloth diapers--dishes and glassware, appliances and furniture. There are examples of Russell Wright, Fiesta Ware, Boontonware, Tupperware, Mirro Aluminum, hammered aluminum decorative and functional pieces, Homer Laughlin dishes, cookie cutters, cleaning products, dollhouses with furniture and a toy metal barn with farm animals, anodized aluminum tumblers, pitcher and bowls, a 1947 GE Refrigerator, a bathinette, and more.

Research Collections

Authentic research materials at the museum include original sales brochures and maps of the early rental courts and "homes for sale" area, along with photographs showing the construction of the village, and the architects, planners and developers. Videotaped interviews with early residents are available for viewing. In the classroom, copies of school district scrapbooks are available, containing not only school news, but also copies of many of the early magazine stories written on Park Forest. Materials for more in-depth study are available at the Park Forest Public Library, located about two blocks from the museum. It is wise to call the library before visiting with a local history research question. The archivist is available to meet with researchers by phone, email or by appointment.

Conservation

Available to other institutions: No

Library

Access: General Public, Students, Scholars, Members
Appointment required: True

Publications

The society issues a newsletter, quarterly, "The Spirit." This began in 2006. Previously there had been two or three issues of a newsletter called, "Prologue."

Programs

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The museum can be open for tours, including school tours by appointment. A tour of the Village can be arranged with the archivist. One educator's guide is aavailable through the Illinois Digital Archives. It may be possible to do a teacher training session--one was put together in the past. The society has a slide show on Park Forest history which is available with a speaker, for a fee. All fees are arranged on a case by case basis.

Staff

Jane Nicoll, Archivist/Curator
Phone: 708-481-4252
Email:


Museum Type

History
Historic House
Historical Society

Governance

Governing Authority: Park Forest Historical Society


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Museum Info courtesy of Illinois Association of Museums.

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