By Dzenita Mustafi
Located forty minutes outside the borders of Chicago is the small town of Itasca. The town was founded in 1841 and currently boasts a population of around 9,000. While the town may initially seem to follow the trends of small towns across America, the historical district sets it apart from the mundane. The historical depot, a project started by Dr. Elijah Smith in the 1800’s, has become a hidden gem for families to visit for generations, and has a wide range of activities for the modern audience to learn about the towns past.
The historical district of the town contains a nature center, forest preserves, as well as several stand-alone museums and depots that invite guests to view and curate their own experiences. There are informational placards as well as speakers throughout to guide guests and provide context, as well as make the exhibits more accessible for visually or auditorily impaired guests.
I started my tour of the historic district in the Springbrook Nature Center. Within the main building, there are live animals native to the area on display. There are animals such as several breeds of turtles, fish, frogs, and snakes that can be found within the parks and surrounding areas. The center also had taxidermied local wildlife, such as beavers and ducks, on display, interspersed with information on the importance of limiting invasive species.
The nature center also hosts classes and activities for children, and has many interactive elements to their displays. Younger guests are encouraged to examine plants with magnifying glasses to identify which are native and which are invasive, and rotate displays of eagles and owls to view their identifying features. There is even a replica of a hollowed-out trunk for children to climb and peek through, bringing a touch of the forest indoors.
Outside of the Nature center, there are also enclosures for the birds that are rehabilitated but cannot be released, due to the extent of their injuries or dependence on the staff’s aid. They have several birds of prey, including a barn owl, a red-tailed hawk, and a vulture. Outside the enclosure of each bird, there are also plaques detailing the breed, some background information, and how they found their way to the nature center.
Past the nature center begin the trails that wind through the preserves. There are multiple paths to take, and they each take you to a different area before looping back to the nature center. I began on the wetland trail, but there are trails to get to the town’s water park, a river trail, and several woodland trails. To access the trails, guests will pass over a wooden walkway and bridge over the stream that winds throughout the park.
There is a boardwalk that spans across the wetlands, which was notably dry during my recent visit. The boardwalk is elevated amongst the cattails and reeds so that during the spring and summer, guests can walk along it above the water that floods that field. Though the water has not overflowed the river yet, park rangers expressed their beliefs that the water levels will rise steadily as we transition into spring.
The boardwalk ends on a field containing a hill that overlooks the wetlands. After making the trek up the hill, park goers can find a bench and tower viewer, that is free to all. This encourages guests to take a moment of contemplation at the summit, to rest and take in the sounds and sights the natural landscape has to offer.
Descending the hill and continuing along the trail takes you to the Town’s public arboretum, which, from Irving Park Rd, can be seen behind the police department. The arboretum has an abundance of trees, from apple and peach to flowering magnolias, which guests are free to walk through and view. Each tree has a plaque labeling it as well as a plaque dedicating many of the plants to a member of the community or a founding family. Located in the orchard are several beekeeping hives that the nature center maintains to ensure the trees receive the pollination they need.
Continuing down this trail leads out to the train depot, adjacent to the town’s pool and library. The depot is composed of two structures; a small museum showcasing historical artefacts of the town pertaining to its background in the railroad system, and an original 1930’s caboose. The museum has artefacts such as original town maps and blueprints as well as the plans for the railroad the town became famous for. Additionally, there are tracks placed where the original railroad tracks would have been in the 1870’s.
The caboose displays what a train car would have looked like in the 1930s and has a plaque detailing its history. There are images detailing the relocation of the caboose from various locations before it was restored and preserved in the historical district. While guests are not able to enter the car, the numerous windows and elevated walkways surrounding the train allow them a look into the past.
Taking the path back to the nature center brings the tour of the historical district to a close. Given the breadth of the park and town center, each visit to the historical district can feel completely unique and reveal new information based on which path you choose to follow. The historical district offers many activities to suit the interests of the diverse population, and encourages citizens from all over the state to visit the site of one of the original railroad towns of Illinois.
All photographs taken by Dzenita Mustafi.
