Hal Tyrell Trailside Museum
738 Thatcher Avenue, River Forest, IL 60305
Museums
This Victorian mansion-museum doubles as a hands-on and recreational experience for kids and adults alike.
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. This historic mid-1870s Victorian mansion is nestled in the sprawling Thatcher Woods, a haven for live native animals, wildflower gardens, and much more. Natural-surfaced hiking trails wind through the beautiful oak woodlands towards a pond, and along the Des Plaines River. The Trailside Museum is family-friendly and focused on offering a wide variety of public programs highlighting nature for children, families, and adults.