One of America’s Oldest Bahá’í Communities

The Bahá’í Faith was established in Oak Park in 1898, making our community one of the oldest Bahá’í congregations in the United States. Over the decades, our religious community has grown and contributed significantly to both the Bahá’í Faith and Oak Park:

∙ Welcomed ‘Abdu’l-Bahá, the son of Bahá’u’lláh and appointed head of the Faith, during his historic 1912 visit to spread the Bahá’í teachings in the West

∙ Formed our Local Spiritual Assembly in 1940—the elected administrative body that governs our community—and received official recognition by the State of Illinois in 1954

∙ Hosted the first Bahá’í civil marriage ceremony in the United States (1934)

∙ Sent teachers and pioneers who served the Faith nationally and internationally, helping to establish Bahá’í communities worldwide

∙ Maintained active involvement in Oak Park’s interfaith community, sharing our religious teachings and principles with neighbors of all faiths.

Our connection to the Bahá’í House of Worship in Wilmette, one of only eight continental Bahá’í temples in the world, runs deep. One of our community members even designed the seating plan for its sacred auditorium.

We are grateful to carry forward this legacy as a congregation devoted to worship, service, and sharing the transformative message of Bahá’u’lláh.