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Top Attractions within Lombard

A suburb of Chicago, the town of Lombard, Illinois affords a distinct, small-town, Midwestern flavour that is often overshadowed by the bright lights and bustle of the big city.  Originally home to the Potawatomi Indians, New England merchant families settled in the area in the middle 1800s, and courted commerce and industry until 1869, when Lombard was incorporated into the city of Chicago. Lombard offers the following attractions to visitors from around the world:

Lilac Festival is a tradition of Lombard since 1930. This event is hosted each year in town, every time in the month of May. Lilac Time in Lombard, as it is also known, begins on May 1st and ends in the middle of the month, after 16 days. The final show of it is a parade which the Lilac Queen attends with her court.

Maple Street Chapel or First Church Of Lombard is a Gothic Revival Church located in the city center of Lombard. It was built in the mid 19th century and dedicated on November 28, 1851. The first kindergarten of Lombard was set in the church which also included a library. In present, this United Church of Christ still holds services in this building each Sunday. You can visit it at the intersection of Main and Maple streets.

Lilacia Park is one of the most beautiful places located within Lombard. This is an 8.5 acres garden specialized in lilacs and tulips. You can visit it daily at 150 South Park Avenue. Helen and William Plum established this garden in 1910 after seeing some beautiful similar gardens in Nancy, France. In present, in the park you can admire more than 200 species of lilacs and 50 of tulips.

Five Things You Must Do in Lombard

1) The 'Little Orphan Annie” House:  The “Little Orphan Annie” house takes its name from cartoonist Harold Gray, author of the “Little Orphan Annie” comic strip.  Gray lived and wrote in the home throughout much of his career.  The house dates back to 1881, and was built in an Italianate style by Dr William LeRoy, who pioneered development of prosthetics for veterans of the American Civil War.

2) The Sheldon Peck House:  Built in 1839, the Sheldon Peck house is the oldest standing structure in Lombard.  The house holds a unique place in the town's history, having served as its first public school, as well as a stop for the Underground Railroad that smuggled fugitives from the antebellum South.  The home is now a museum, and opens its doors on Tuesdays and Saturdays.

3) The Lombard Historical Museum: The town museum features Victorian furnishings and artefacts that were characteristic of the late 19th Century middle classes.  It is open Wednesdays and Sundays, and offers a variety of tours and educational programmes.

4) Lilacia Park:  Lilacia Park was designed by Jens Jensen, renowned for his work with the Chicago Parks District.  Lilacia Park is known for the unusual splendour of its landscape design, and attracts visitors from around the world.  

5) The Enchanted Castle:  A favourite for children of all ages, the Enchanted Castle amusement park is a massive family entertainment centre, complete with funfair rides, mini golf, children's play areas, entertainment halls and live stage shows. 

Lombard's location in the greater Chicago area affords the traveller an abundance of options for accommodation and dining.