River Forest, Illinois is widely recognized for its rich and diverse collection of historic commercial and residential architecture ranging in styles from 19th Century Victorian to 20th Century Craftsman, Period Revival, Prairie and Mid-Century Modern styled homes. River Forest's architecture documents the experience of its earliest settlers and the architects, builders and developers who transformed the community into one of the Chicago region's quintessential historic railroad suburbs of tree-lined streets and well designed homes.

The Village of River Forest and its Historic Preservation Commission is embarking on a comprehensive Architectural and Historical Survey to identify important historic and architectural building resources within the Village and placing these resources within their proper historic context. The Survey should also serve as an educational tool for promoting River Forest's history and architecture to the community at large.

The River Forest Architectural and Historical Survey is an opportunity for the Village of River Forest to accomplish the following objectives:

• Identify, document and inventory those historic resources that are considered historically and architectural significant to the River Forest community and which may be eligible for listing in the National Register of Historic Places.
• Survey, document and evaluate properties within the existing River Forest National Register Historic District, bounded generally by Washington Boulevard, the Des Plaines River, Division Street and Harlem Avenue.
• Serve as a baseline of information for future research and documentation activities on individual River Forest properties. Additional research may yield new information and facts allowing other buildings to become architecturally and historically significant in their own right.
• Promote a historic preservation "ethic" that promotes the long-term stewardship of River Forest's irreplaceable architecture on part of property and business owners and the citizens of River Forest.

Survey Process
The process for undertaking and completing this River Forest Architectural and Historical Survey involves five distinct tasks: background research and historic context development, survey form development, the survey of all properties within the Village of River Forest, the mapping of all documented and surveyed resources, and the preparation and completion of a Draft and Final River Forest Architectural and Historical Survey Reports. The project is scheduled to be completed in February 2013.