Park Forest House Museum

The 1950s Park Forest House Museum is in an original rental townhome, built in 1947-1949 by American Community Builders. It is furnished as it might have been from 1948-1953, the first five years of tenant occupancy.  A museum visit is a great way to get acquainted with Park Forest, Illinois' unique history as the first fully-planned, post-World War II suburb. Designed to provide housing for returning World War II veterans and their families, it has come to be known as, "America's Original GI Town." The museum provides a nostalgic trip down Memory Lane for anyone who lived in the 1950s or 1960s, or for those interested in that period. Visitors are encouraged to open drawers, cupboard and closets to discover period treasures inside. Contents of the house, furnished as though a young veteran and his family of small children occupy it, include dolls, toys, dollhouses, books, dishes, serving pieces, furniture and clothing from the period. When is the last time you said, "Hello," to Howdy Doody?