East St. Louis in St. Clair County, Illinois — The American Midwest (Great Lakes)
S. 6th St. and Railroad Ave.
Remembering the 1917 East St. Louis Race Riot
Photographed By Jason Voigt, November 5, 2019
1. S. 6th St. and Railroad Ave. Marker
Erected 2017 by The East St. Louis 1917 Centennial Commission & Cultural Initiative, the Meridian Society, and Southern Illinois University Edwardsville. (Marker Number 11.)
Topics and series. This historical marker is listed in this topic list: African Americans. In addition, it is included in the Illinois, Remembering the 1917 East St. Louis Race Riot series list. A significant historical date for this entry is July 3, 1917.
Location. 38° 37.332′ N, 90° 9.697′ W. Marker is in East St. Louis, Illinois, in St. Clair County. Marker is on Railroad Avenue, 0.1 miles east of South 5th Street, on the right when traveling north. It is on the grounds of Southern Illinois University Edwardsville's East St. Louis Center, facing the courtyard and main buildings. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 601 James R Thompson Boulevard, East Saint Louis IL 62201, United States of America. Touch for directions.
Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within walking distance of this marker. East St. Louis Race Massacre, July 1917 (about 400 feet away, measured in a direct line); S. 5th St. and Railroad Ave. (about 500 feet away); 700 East Broadway (about 700 feet away); S. 8th St. and Brady Ave.
this page online
Regarding S. 6th St. and Railroad Ave.. At 7:30 p.m. on the evening of the massacre, over 100 African Americans barricaded themselves in two homes. They were armed and resisted the white rioters - so much so that the rioters complained to the Illinois National Guard standing nearby. An officer lectured the rioters, "they are playing the game the way you are." He arranged a cease-fire and the African Americans were escorted to St. Louis.
Source: Elliott Rudwick, "Race Riot at East St. Louis-1917" p. 53
Additional keywords. 1917 race riot
Photographed By Jason Voigt, November 5, 2019
2. S. 6th St. and Railroad Ave. Marker
Credits. This page was last revised on November 7, 2019. It was originally submitted on November 7, 2019, by Jason Voigt of Glen Carbon, Illinois. This page has been viewed 202 times since then and 11 times this year. Photos: 1, 2. submitted on November 7, 2019, by Jason Voigt of Glen Carbon, Illinois. • Devry Becker Jones was the editor who published this page.
