Contact

Village of Orland Park
Recreation and Parks Department
708.403.5000
recreation@orlandpark.org

Orland Park Heritage Sites Office
Recreation Administration
14600 S. Ravinia Ave.
Orland Park, IL 60462

Heritage Sites Supervisor: Libby Paulson
708.403.6268
epaulson@orlandpark.org

Senator John Humphrey House
9830 W. 144th Pl.
Orland Park, IL 60462

Orland Park Historic Sites on Facebook

Heritage Sites Strategic Plan

Hours

By appointment only.

Contact Heritage Sites Supervisor:
Libby Paulson to make an appointment.
708.403.6268
epaulson@orlandpark.org

Or you may contact the Village of Orland Park Recreation and Parks Department to make an appointment.
708.403.5000
recreation@orlandpark.org

Resources

Become a Volunteer

This Quarter in
Orland Park History

July 13, 1900: John Stuart Humphrey, son of Senator John Humphrey and Ida Stuart Humphrey, is born. John's collection of his family papers and preservation of the Humphrey House is why we know so much about the family today. Humphrey Family0008 retouched (2) August 8, 1880: After a few weeks' delay, the first passenger train service begins in Orland. The train that stops in this area is the all-stop local passenger train that departs Decatur for Chicago every weekday morning and comes the opposite way every weekday night. train depot repaired SEPIA (2) August 10, 1924: St. Michael Church is built in Orland 1930 St Michael 2019.028.165 September 8, 1954: Carl Sandburg High School opens for its first day of classes.

Coloring Pages

Master HeaderHERITAGE

Orland Park Museum Collection

Where Past IS Present

Innovation Award - 2026 The Orland Park Heritage Sites aim to inspire a sense of community by offering engaging and educational displays and programs. The Heritage Sites division oversees the collection and preservation of artifacts that document the history of the Orland Park area and its relationship to local, state and national history. The area we know today as Orland Park was first settled in 1834. The Village of Orland Park was incorporated in 1892 when Senator John Humphrey served as the first Village President.

Heritage Sites

Senator John Humphrey House Weekly Hours

The Senator John Humphrey House is open for FREE tours and visits every Friday and Saturday from 10 - 3 p.m by appointment only. To book your spot, email epaulson@orlandpark.org or call 708.403.6268.

Programs

Heritage Displays

Each quarter, the display cases in the Village Hall’s front lobby will feature a new theme and artifacts to showcase and decentralize the Village’s extensive historical collection. These displays will be changed throughout the year, so be sure to stop back to see what is new!

The display cases at Village Hall have been updated for the third quarter of 2026. The main display is titled "Orland 250." From the Potawatomi to the creation of Centennial Park West, Orland Park has a long and illustrious history. In celebration of the nation’s 250th anniversary, this display celebrates 250 years of Orland’s history through a chronological timeline and corresponding artifacts.

The display case underneath the stairs at Village Hall celebrates the United States' 250th Anniversary. The display case at the Sportsplex looks at the history of golf.

Check out some of the highlights from our previous displays:

Fun & Games

Agriculture in Orland Park

Women of Orland Park

Collection

The Village of Orland Park has a large collection of artifacts pertaining to the history of the area. The archival collection includes letters, documents, maps, blueprints, diaries, books and photographs. The 3-dimensional and textile collection consists of historic clothing, uniforms, quilts and household textiles, such as doilies, furniture, china and glassware, sports memorabilia, and farming equipment.

View the Village of Orland Park’s online collection here

New photos and artifacts are added to the website weekly. Contact Heritage Sites Supervisor Libby Paulson at 708.403.6268 or email epaulson@orlandpark.org for more information.

Admission

Group Tours

Orland Park History Tours

One-hour guided group tours are available.
PRICING
General Public: $30 for 15 people or less, $3 per person (exceeding 15)
Non-Profits (scouts, churches, municipalities): $25 for 15 people or less, $2 per person (exceeding 15)
Orland Park Schools can schedule a tour for FREE.
Contact: Heritagesites@orlandpark.org / 708.403.6268

Type of Tours

Old Orland: Includes the Old Orland Historic District.
Humphrey House: The Senator John Humphrey House is open for FREE tours and visits every Friday and Saturday from 10 - 3 p.m by appointment only. To book your spot, email epaulson@orlandpark.org or call 708.403.6268.

Donation Items Needed

The Village' Heritage Sites division seeks items that are significant to local, state or national history. Below is a list of some of the current items we are in search of:

Carl Sandburg High School yearbooks
Plat books or maps of the Orland area
City directories
Photographs of businesses (current or businesses that are no longer in operation), street views, homes, and families
Old local business ads or receipts
Postcards received by or sent by Orland Park area families
Textiles

Contact Heritage Sites Supervisor Libby Paulson at 708.403.6268 or epaulson@orlandpark.org regarding donations you would like to add to our collection.

Become a Heritage Sites Member

The Heritage Sites offer educational programs year-round for people of all ages. Programs offered include historic tours, informative lectures, creative workshops, family events as well as a variety of other offerings. Memberships may be purchased at the Sportsplex office, the Village Hall cashier's office or online.

Individual and Family Memberships Available.

Resident: $15 Individual / $25 Family

Non-resident: $20 Individual / $30 Family

Click here to become a member today!

Orland Park: "Then" and "Now"

14409 Beacon Avenue served as the site for the old Village Hall and the Orland Fire Department. When it was built in approximately 1892, it was a white, two-story clapboard structure . The original village limits were approximately 151st Street to the south, 94th Avenue to the east, 143rd Street to the north, and West Avenue to the west. Outside these limits were unincorporated Orland and parts of Orland Township.

The village board met on the second floor and the lower level housed the volunteer fire department. There was also the large water tower directly northeast of the building that provided water for the small village. When it collapsed c. 1919, it flooded the Humphrey family’s yard and home.

In 1920, on the second floor of the building, a freshman class of what would become a two-year high school program was taught here. For the second year, it was held on the second floor of the newly opened Orland State bank. Eventually, elementary, middle, and high school students went to Park School once its construction was completed in the late fall of 1922.

In the late spring of 1959, Orland Park's municipal government relocated to 9924 W. 143rd Place (Sanderson’s Optometry). The original Village Hall building (image on the left) was torn down in 1960 and a new building was constructed. Officials and employees moved into their newly built civic center in April 1961 and it served the same purpose until the new Village Hall Complex on Ravinia Avenue was built and opened in 1989.

After serving as Village Hall, this building became a community center, being used for programs, scout meetings, and theater productions. In summer 2025, the building made its debut as Studio VOP, The Center for Theater and Improv.