Forest Park IllinoisATTRACTIONS & THINGS TO DO
Listed below are the best attractions and things to do near Forest Park, Illinois.
1. Forest Home Cemetery
HISTORIC FINAL RESTING PLACE
Forest Home Cemetery is a historic cemetery in Forest Park with beautiful grounds and significant monuments dating back to the 1800s. Visitors can explore the peaceful landscape featuring elaborate tombstones, mausoleums, and memorials of notable figures from Chicago's past. The cemetery offers self-guided tours that highlight its architectural features and historical significance.
2. Woodlawn Funeral Home and Memorial Park
SERENE MEMORIAL GROUNDS
Woodlawn Funeral Home and Memorial Park offers a tranquil setting for reflection and remembrance in Forest Park. The grounds feature beautifully landscaped gardens and the famous Showmen's Rest, a section dedicated to circus performers who perished in the tragic 1918 Hagenbeck-Wallace Circus train wreck. Visitors are drawn to the somber elephant statues that mark this unique burial ground with its poignant history and legends.
3. Haymarket Martyrs' Monument
LABOR MOVEMENT MEMORIAL
The Haymarket Martyrs' Monument stands as a powerful tribute to labor activists executed after the 1886 Haymarket Affair in Chicago. Located within Forest Home Cemetery in Forest Park, this impressive memorial has become an important pilgrimage site for labor movement supporters from around the world. The monument features a bronze statue of a woman placing a laurel wreath on a fallen worker, symbolizing the ongoing struggle for workers' rights.
4. Escape Factor
THRILLING ESCAPE ROOMS
Escape Factor offers immersive escape room experiences that challenge visitors to solve puzzles and mysteries within a time limit. Located in Forest Park, this interactive attraction features multiple themed rooms with varying difficulty levels suitable for friends, families, and corporate teams. Participants must work together, using critical thinking and communication skills to unlock clues and escape before time runs out.
5. Forest Park Picnic Grove
RELAXING OUTDOOR SPACE
Forest Park Picnic Grove provides a peaceful natural setting for outdoor gatherings and relaxation. The well-maintained grounds offer shaded areas, picnic tables, and open spaces perfect for family outings, community events, or quiet afternoons. Visitors can enjoy the serene environment while still being conveniently located within the village of Forest Park.
6. The Grove
NATURAL HISTORY CENTER
The Grove in Forest Park offers visitors a blend of natural beauty and educational opportunities. This attraction features walking trails through wooded areas, gardens, and interactive exhibits about local ecology and wildlife. Nature enthusiasts can participate in guided tours, workshops, and seasonal programs designed to foster appreciation for the environment.
7. Madison Street Shopping District
VIBRANT COMMERCIAL CORRIDOR
Madison Street serves as Forest Park's main shopping district, offering a charming mix of boutiques, antique shops, and specialty stores. Visitors can browse unique merchandise while enjoying the small-town atmosphere of this walkable commercial area. The street regularly hosts community events, sidewalk sales, and seasonal celebrations that showcase local businesses and draw visitors from throughout the region.
8. Annual Casket Races
QUIRKY SEASONAL EVENT
The Annual Casket Races have become a beloved fall tradition in Forest Park, celebrating the village's unique cemetery-rich history with a lighthearted competition. Teams race decorated casket-inspired contraptions down Madison Street, creating a thrilling spectacle that draws spectators from across the region. This quirky event perfectly encapsulates Forest Park's ability to embrace its distinctive character while creating memorable community gatherings.
9. Showmen's Rest
CIRCUS PERFORMERS MEMORIAL
Showmen's Rest is a haunting and historic section of Woodlawn Cemetery dedicated to circus performers who lost their lives in the 1918 Hagenbeck-Wallace Circus train crash. The site is marked by elephant statues with lowered trunks, symbolizing mourning for the performers buried in mass graves following the tragic accident. Visitors are drawn to this poignant memorial that represents the intersection of circus history, tragedy, and remembrance in Forest Park.
10. Garfield Park Conservatory
LUSH BOTANICAL HAVEN
Garfield Park Conservatory is one of the largest botanical conservatories in the United States, located a short distance from Forest Park in neighboring Chicago. This magnificent glass structure houses thousands of plant species arranged in stunning displays that represent different ecosystems, from tropical palms to desert cacti. Visitors can enjoy the lush indoor gardens year-round, with seasonal flower shows and educational programs adding to the experience.
11. Brookfield Zoo
WORLD-CLASS WILDLIFE PARK
Brookfield Zoo is a renowned zoological park located just minutes from Forest Park in the neighboring village of Brookfield. Spanning over 200 acres, the zoo houses approximately 2,000 animals representing 450 species in naturalistic habitats, including popular exhibits like Tropic World, Great Bear Wilderness, and Habitat Africa. Visitors can enjoy animal encounters, educational presentations, seasonal events, and family-friendly activities throughout the year.
12. Oak Park Historic District
ARCHITECTURAL TREASURE TROVE
The Oak Park Historic District, adjacent to Forest Park, features the world's largest collection of Frank Lloyd Wright-designed homes and buildings. Visitors can take guided tours of Wright's own home and studio, along with other architectural masterpieces that showcase his Prairie School style. Beyond Wright's works, the district offers beautiful tree-lined streets with impressive examples of Victorian, Queen Anne, and Colonial Revival architecture.
13. Ernest Hemingway Birthplace Museum
LITERARY HERITAGE SITE
The Ernest Hemingway Birthplace Museum preserves the Victorian home where the renowned American author was born in 1899, located in Oak Park near Forest Park. Meticulously restored to its 1890s appearance, the museum offers guided tours that provide insights into Hemingway's early life and the influences that shaped his literary career. Visitors can see original family artifacts and period furnishings while learning about the Nobel Prize-winning writer's connection to the community.
14. Ferrara Pan Candy Company
SWEET FACTORY TOUR
The Ferrara Pan Candy Company, founded in 1908, offers visitors a glimpse into the production of iconic candies like Lemonheads, Red Hots, and Atomic Fireballs at its Forest Park facility. Tours of the factory showcase the candy-making process, from mixing ingredients to packaging the finished sweets. Visitors can learn about the company's Italian immigrant origins and sample freshly made confections during this delightful sensory experience.
15. Columbus Park
HISTORIC LANDSCAPE DESIGN
Columbus Park, designed by renowned landscape architect Jens Jensen in 1912, is a National Historic Landmark located near Forest Park in Chicago's Austin neighborhood. The 144-acre park exemplifies Jensen's Prairie style with its naturalistic waterfalls, stratified stonework, winding paths, and native plantings. Visitors can enjoy the golf course, fishing lagoon, athletic fields, and walking trails while appreciating the harmonious design that celebrates the Midwestern landscape.