Trailside Museum of Natural History
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Established in 1931, the Hal Tyrell 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.
Events
Location
738 Thatcher Ave
River Forest, IL 60305
Southwest corner at the intersection of Thatcher Ave and Chicago Ave.
Contact
708-366-6530
Hours of Operation
November – February
Building: 9 am – 3:45 pm, closed Fridays
Grounds: 8 am – 4 pm
March – May
Building: 9 am – 4:45 pm, closed Fridays
Grounds: 8 am – 5 pm
June – August
Building: 9am – 4:30pm, closed Mondays
Grounds: 8am – 5pm
NEW! Summer Evening Hours: Building and grounds open Thursdays until 8pm.
September – October
Building: 9 am – 4:45 pm, closed Fridays
Grounds: 8 am – 5 pm
NOTE: Building and grounds closed Thanksgiving, Christmas, and New Year’s Day
