East St. Louis in St. Clair County, Illinois — The American Midwest (Great Lakes)

S. 4th St. and E. Broadway

Remembering the 1917 East St. Louis Race Riot

Photographed By Jason Voigt, October 1, 2019

1. S. 4th St. and E. Broadway Marker

Inscription. Click to hear the inscription.

A streetcar was stopped near this spot. White rioters pulled African American passengers off and attacked them while soldiers stood and watched.

Erected 2017 by The East St. Louis 1917 Centennial Commission & Cultural Initiative, the Meridian Society, and Southern Illinois University Edwardsville. (Marker Number 15.)

Topics and series. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: African Americans • Railroads & Streetcars. In addition, it is included in the Illinois, Remembering the 1917 East St. Louis Race Riot series list. A significant historical month for this entry is July 1917.

Location. 38° 37.499′ N, 90° 9.718′ W. Marker is in East St. Louis, Illinois, in St. Clair County. Marker is at the intersection of East Broadway (Illinois Route 15) and Barack Obama Avenue, on the right when traveling south on East Broadway. It is on the east side of Fountain of Youth Park. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 16 4th Street, 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. A different marker also named S. 4th St. and E. Broadway (within shouting distance of this marker);

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N. 4th St. and Division Ave. (about 300 feet away, measured in a direct line); S. 4th St. and Railroad Ave. (about 600 feet away); S. 5th St. and Railroad Ave. (about 700 feet away); S. 6th St. and Railroad Ave. (approx. 0.2 miles away); N. 3rd St. and Missouri Ave. (approx. 0.2 miles away); East St. Louis Race Massacre, July 1917 (approx. ¼ mile away); 700 East Broadway (approx. ¼ mile away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in East St. Louis.

Regarding S. 4th St. and E. Broadway. An African American man was shot where Collinsville Avenue meets East Broadway. One of the first actions of the mob was to stop a streetcar, which was easily done by pulling the overhead trolleys from the charged electric wire. White rioters attacked African American passengers while soldiers stood and watched.

Source: Barnes, p. 136

Please note that Barack Obama Avenue (re-named from 4th Street in 2012) is a one-way street and front-side of marker is not seen.

Photographed By Jason Voigt, October 1, 2019

2. S. 4th St. and E. Broadway Marker

Located at the Fountain of Youth Park

Credits. This page was last revised on November 8, 2019. It was originally submitted on November 8, 2019, by Jason Voigt of Glen Carbon, Illinois. This page has been viewed 205 times since then and 58 times this year. Photos: 1, 2. submitted on November 8, 2019, by Jason Voigt of Glen Carbon, Illinois. • Devry Becker Jones was the editor who published this page.