Hemingway Museum

In addition to Oak Park having a museum dedicated to Ernest Hemingway's birthplace, there is a tangential museum located just down the block from his birth home. The museum is in the lower level of the Oak Park Arts Center, which was originally built as the 1st Church of Christ, Scientist and now used a concert and performance venue. The museum covers Hemingway's personality, writings, and interactions with the village - he did attend the local high school, Oak Park and River Forest High School. And after he served in World War I he was given a hero's welcome home. Oak Park celebrates Hemingway's connection with the village by many annual events every year and is very proud to have such a cultural icon rooted here. Personally, I'm happy to have had learned more about Hemingway and I hope to reread many of his writings soon.

The Historical Society of Oak Park & River Forest

There is a lot happening right now at The Historical Society of Oak Park & River Forest. Currently it's offices and a small exhibition space are located in the historic Pleasant Home in downtown Oak Park, but the Historical Society is working on its own home in a historical firehouse. In a push to get more community exposure the Historical Society has been hosting a series of weekend open houses to show and tell their big plans and current progress. The firehouse itself tells an interesting story of the volunteer firefighters who worked and maintained the fire brigade. The Historical Society hopes to develop a research center, exhibition space, event space, and will also have a geothermal heating system. It'll be exciting to watch the progress of the Historical Society.