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Trailside Museum of Natural History
Trailside’s Birdhouse Contest Now Open
The purpose of this contest is to highlight the need for nesting sites for birds and showcase your creative building skills. Houses will be built by registered participants, displayed throughout the summer and voted on by visitors. Prizes will be awarded. Houses due by May 23, 2019. Learn more >
Established in 1931, the Hal Tyrrell Trailside Museum of Natural History served as the first public nature education facility of the Forest Preserves of Cook County.
Visitors to the Museum, housed in a historic mid-1870′s Victorian mansion, will discover displays of live native animals, colorful wildflower gardens, information about local wildlife and their habitats, and more.
Natural-surfaced hiking trails through the surrounding Forest Preserve wind through beautiful oak woodlands and floodplain forest, and to a pond and along the Des Plaines River.
Trailside Museum is child-friendly, and offers a wide variety of public nature programs and guided hikes every month, for children, families and adults. School groups and organizations are welcome to make reservations to visit, and will receive a customized tour with a naturalist.
Trailside Museum is located at the western edge of suburban River Forest, and is easily reached by foot, bicycle, car, or public transportation.
Upcoming Events
April 2019
Sat, Apr 27 • 8 AM
Free
Earth Day Des Plaines River Cleanup in Thatcher Woods
May 2019
Thu, May 2 • 10:30 am
Free
Nature Story Times
Thu, May 2 • 7 PM
Free
Nature Book Club
Sun, May 12 • 1 PM
Free
Makin’ Music Bluegrass Jam
Thu, May 16 • 10:30 am
Free
Nature Story Times
Fri, May 17 • 11 AM
Free
River Kayaking 101
Wed, May 22 • 10 AM
Free
Nature Tots
Sun, May 26 • 1 PM
Free
Guided Spring Nature Hike
July 2019
Wed, Jul 10 - Thu, Jul 11 • 9 AM
$20
Fishing Fun Camp
