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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
June 2019
Thu, Jun 20 • 10:30 am
Free
Nature Story Time
Sat, Jun 29 • 1:30 pm
Free
Summer Nature Hike
July 2019
Wed, Jul 10 - Thu, Jul 11 • 9 AM
$20
Fishing Fun Camp
Wed, Jul 10 - Thu, Jul 11 • 9:30 am
$20
Fishing Fun Day Camp
Sun, Jul 14 • 1 PM
Free
Makin’ Music Bluegrass Jam
Wed, Jul 17 • 2 PM
$5 – $10
Kayak the Pond
Thu, Jul 18 • 10:30 am
Free
Nature Story Time
Sat, Jul 20 • 1:30 pm
Free
Summer Nature Hike
Wed, Jul 24 • 10 AM
Free
Nature Tots
Fri, Jul 26 • 8:30 pm
Free
They Fly By Night–Moths
Tue, Jul 30 • 1 PM
Free
Trailside Animal Connections: Fox
August 2019
Thu, Aug 1 • 10:30 am
Free
Nature Story Time
Wed, Aug 7 • 10 AM
Free
Nature Tots
Sun, Aug 11 • 1 PM
Free
Makin’ Music Bluegrass Jam
Wed, Aug 14 • 2 PM
$5 – $10
Kayak the Pond
Thu, Aug 15 • 10:30 am
Free
Nature Story Time
Thu, Aug 15 • 7 PM
Free
Nature Book Club
Sat, Aug 17 • 1:30 pm
Free
Summer Nature Hike
Sun, Aug 18 • 9:30 am
Free
Late Summer Bird Walk
Tue, Aug 20 • 1 PM
Free
Trailside Animal Connections: Hawk
Fri, Aug 23 • 1 PM
Free
River Kayaking 101
Fri, Aug 23 • 5:30 pm
Free
River Kayaking 101
Fri, Aug 23 • 7:30 pm
Free
Bats: Night Stalkers
September 2019
