Seniors Discover Mt. Prospect Near Chicago

Mt. Prospect is a village that senior travelers will find about 22 miles northwest of downtown Chicago. The village population runs right at 55,000.

The present day Mt. Prospect was first settled by Yankee farmers after 1833. The Illinois and Wisconsin Railroad ran through the village around 1854. The real estate agent, Ezra Carpenter Eggleston, established a four block residential subdivision in 1871.

The area was named Mount Prospect by Eggleston. Mt.  Prospect was incorporated in May 1917 as a village. A local store owner named William Busse became the first village president.

 Senior Visitors Join The Downtown Block Party

Mt. Prospect has a number of distinct and award winning school districts. The Downtown Block Party is always a major draw for the locals as well as senior visitors.  

Toss in the clubs and play a round or two at the Old Orchard Golf course. It is one beautiful course to play in the fall with all its colorful trees. Many beautiful homes dot the area.

I enjoy what Facebook has to say about the cities we visit. Bar 145 rates high with Facebook as it also does with TripAdvisor. Seniors, if you would like a good stroll or hike, check out River Trails Park District.

Seniors Visit Victorian Farmhouse

The Dietrich Friedrichs house, now a historic museum, was built in 1906. It is Victorian farmhouse furnished to reflect the year 1917, as that was the year of the village’s incorporation. Bessie Friedrich Barnes, a long-time resident of Mt.  Prospect grew up in the house. Ms. Barnes’ recollections and personal artifacts were crucial to the creation of this exhibit.

I know my wife and I would make it a point to visit the house as we enjoy old historic sites. The Friedrichs were immigrants from Germany, a very common ancestry among Mt.Prospect’s first settlers.

Senior visitors can check out the several parks in Mt. Prospect. Perhaps spend leisure time at Mt. Prospect’s public library exploring the history and culture of the village.

You will discover ten botanical parks surrounding Mt. Prospect and each is loaded with historical and beautiful gardens.

The local Chamber of Commerce is highly active and provides a community profile and information on the village. Check out their Calendar of Events. They have a great listing  (Dining Tab) of local restaurants for you gourmet folks with a demanding palate.

Stop in  Mt. Prospect when you are in the windy city and enjoy this pleasant village. -jeb