Galesburg in Knox County, Illinois — The American Midwest (Great Lakes)

Carl Sandburg Birthplace

Photographed by Duane and Tracy Marsteller, May 23, 2020

1. Carl Sandburg Birthplace Marker

Inscription. Carl Sandburg, poet and historian, was born in this modest three-room cottage on January 6, 1878. He was the son of a Swedish immigrant railroad worker. Carl attended Lombard College in Galesburg, and his first poetry was published in this town. He later became a journalist and prolific author, first gaining prominence in Chicago. His Complete Poems and a biography, Abraham Lincoln: The War Years, won Pulitzer Prizes. He also wrote a novel, an autobiography, children's stories, and folksongs. After his death in 1967, his ashes were buried beneath remembrance rock behind his birthplace.

Erected 1972 by Illinois State Historical Society.

Topics and series. This historical marker is listed in this topic list: Arts, Letters, Music. In addition, it is included in the Illinois State Historical Society series list. A significant historical date for this entry is January 6, 1878.

Location. 40° 56.174′ N, 90° 21.959′ W. Marker is in Galesburg, Illinois, in Knox County. It is on East 3rd Street east of South Kellogg Street, on the left when traveling east. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 331 E 3rd St, Galesburg

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IL 61401, United States of America. Touch for directions.

Regionally, this marker is in Central Illinois.

It is also in the American Midwest

and in the Corn Belt.

Globally, it is in North America,

the Western Hemisphere,

the Western World,

and the Anglosphere.

Historically, it finds itself in what was once the territory of the Mississippian Culture

and also the Northwest Territory.

Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within walking distance of this marker: Carl Sandburg State Historic Site (here, next to this marker); The Fifth Debate (approx. half a mile away); Stephen A. Douglas at Knox College (approx. half a mile away); Abraham Lincoln Knox College (approx. half a mile away); This Memorial Tablet (approx. 0.6 miles away); Old Main (approx. 0.6 miles away); Lincoln-Douglas Debate (approx. 0.6 miles away); 614 East South Street (approx. 0.6 miles away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Galesburg.

Photographed by Duane and Tracy Marsteller, May 23, 2020

2. Carl Sandburg Birthplace Marker

Carl Sandburg, 1944 image. Click for full size.

Library of Congress

3. Carl Sandburg, 1944

Remembrance Rock behind the Carl Sandburg Birthplace image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Mark Parker, July 19, 2023

4. Remembrance Rock behind the Carl Sandburg Birthplace

The burial place for the ashes of Carl Sandburg and his wife Lillian

Carl Sandburg bust at his Birthplace home image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Mark Parker, July 19, 2023

5. Carl Sandburg bust at his Birthplace home

Credits. This page was last revised on July 23, 2024. It was originally submitted on May 26, 2020, by Duane and Tracy Marsteller of Murfreesboro, Tennessee. This page has been viewed 369 times since then and 13 times this year. Photos: 1, 2, 3. submitted on May 26, 2020, by Duane and Tracy Marsteller of Murfreesboro, Tennessee. 4, 5. submitted on July 22, 2024, by Mark Parker of Hickory, North Carolina. • Devry Becker Jones was the editor who published this page.