Top 8 Things to do Good for a Rainy Day in Oak Park, Illinois (IL)

The Oak Park River Forest Gangster Tour known as "There Goes the Neighbor Hood" is offered by John Binder, who guides every tour. I have been studying organized crime in Chicago for almost 30 years, have written two books (Al Capone's Beer Wars and The Chicago Outfit), and am a consultant to the Chicago History Museum and the Vegas Mob Museum. I have been giving Mobster tours for over 12 years.

To ensure the health and safety of our guests, tours at the Home and Studio return on June 11 and are limited to nine guests per time slot. (Updated 6/2/20) The Frank Lloyd Wright Home and Studio in Oak Park, Illinois served as Wright's private residence and workplace from 1889 to 1909--the first 20 years of his career. Today, Oak Park is home to the world’s largest collection of Wright-designed buildings. Wright used his first home to experiment with design concepts that contain the seeds of his architectural philosophy. In his adjacent studio, Wright and his associates developed a new American architecture - the Prairie style. Enjoy guided tours of the museum complex and neighboring historic district seven days a week. Trained interpreters offer insights into Wright's family life and architectural legacy. Tour details are available on the Frank Lloyd Wright Trust website

Unity Temple (1905-08) is now a UNESCO World Heritage Site on the 20th Century Architecture of Frank Lloyd Wright List, and represents a defining moment in Frank Lloyd Wright’s early career. Designed in Wright’s Oak Park Studio for his own Unitarian congregation, it is one of the first public buildings in America to feature exposed concrete and is Wright’s greatest public building of his Prairie era. The harmony of the building’s strikingly geometric architecture and decorative elements exemplifies Wright’s theory of organic design. Unity Temple announced a new era of innovation in modern architecture.

Fully restored historic movie theatre with seven screens in Oak Park, IL with free refills on freshly popped popcorn, sodas and ICEEs. Get showtimes and tickets online to take a two-hour movie vacation with Classic Cinemas.

Creative and imaginative play are vital to a healthy child and Wonder Works Children’s Museum provides countless opportunities for both, giving children a safe space to explore. Wonder Works is committed to providing an environment where early learning flourishes through our seven thoughtfully designed “experience zones” and educational programming. Check website for special events offered throughout the year. Hours: 10 a.m.-5 p.m. Monday, Wednesday-Saturday and noon -5 p.m. Sunday. Tuesdays for large field trips only. Three levels of memberships give unlimited experiences all year.

Ernest Hemingway's Birthplace Museum is nestled just west of downtown Chicago in Oak Park, Illinois. This is the ideal place to begin exploring the roots of the author's life and work. It is here that Ernest Hemingway was born in a second floor bedroom on July 21, 1899. This Queen Anne home was built in 1890 by his maternal grandparents and was the first home in Oak Park to have electricity. The famed Pulitzer Prize winning author spent the first six years of his life at what is now 339 N. Oak Park Ave. The restoration, which began in 1992, authentically returned the house to its 1890s’ Victorian heritage; ensuring that your experience of the furnishings and stories told reflect the young man who lived there.