For Elmhurst, you can choose your focus based on how you want to explore: local history, modern architecture or time on a regional walking and cycling trail. The Elmhurst History Museum focuses on the city’s development; the Elmhurst Art Museum offers a self-guided audio tour of its modern architecture. The Salt Creek Greenway adds another, activity-oriented option. You can shape your stay around an exhibition, architecture or a trail.

Local History and Architecture at Two Museums

At the Elmhurst History Museum, an award-winning exhibition explores Elmhurst’s growth and development over its more than 165-year history. It features artifacts from local businesses, residents and organizations, rare photographs, an interactive table map and a documentary. This brings together different forms of local evidence: objects, images, an interactive display and a film presentation. Visitors interested in exploring local history through different media will find a concrete way to do so here.

The museum is downtown, half a block east of the Elmhurst Metra Station, south of the tracks and directly east of York Street. These points of reference help you locate the museum within Elmhurst.

The Elmhurst Art Museum offers a different focus. Its self-guided audio tour covers Elmhurst’s modern architecture and can be completed by car or on foot. It provides historical context and interesting facts about buildings by Wright, Mies, Walter Burley Griffin, R. Harold Zook, Dirk Lohan and other architects. This architectural perspective complements the exhibition on local history. The Elmhurst Art Museum is also home to the McCormick House, designed and built by Mies van der Rohe.

Trails and Landscapes in Elmhurst

The regional Salt Creek Greenway Trail is nearly 25 miles long and is open to walkers and cyclists. In Elmhurst, access points include Eldridge Park, the Illinois Prairie Path at St. Charles Road west of Route 83, Maple Trail Woods, and the intersection of Thomas Street and Monterey Avenue at Pick Park. Distinguishing the trail’s regional length from its specific access points helps with local planning: you can choose one of the listed locations as a point of reference rather than treating the total length as your planned route.

The Keith A. Olson Prairie, formerly called Elmhurst Great Western Prairie, offers another way to connect with nature. It is located within Wild Meadows Trace, north of the Prairie Path between Spring Road and Salt Creek. The prairie is considered Elmhurst’s oldest living environment. Its precise location and ecological significance give it a distinct place in the local nature theme.

Seasonal Flower Shows at the Wilder Park Conservatory

The Wilder Park Conservatory combines a historical connection with a seasonal attraction. It was established in 1923 as the Elmhurst Park District’s first capital project and hosts three seasonal flower shows. These are two separate considerations when planning: the founding year places the conservatory in its historical context, while the flower shows depend on the season. If you would like to include a particular show in your trip, check the dates in advance.

Discover more destinations: Warrenville, Carol Stream, Wood Dale, Lombard, Villa Park, Glendale Heights, Lisle, Darien.

For the broader travel overview: Dupage.