Joliet in Will County, Illinois — The American Midwest (Great Lakes)

George Kiser, Iron Works laborer

I&M Canal Passage

Photographed by Jason Voigt, September 30, 2020

1. George Kiser, Iron Works laborer Marker

Inscription.
George Kiser, an African-American, moved to Joliet from Missouri in the early 1900s. A laborer at the Joliet Iron Works, he worked in noisy, hot and dangerous conditions. The mill employed workers from all over the world - migrants from the south were joined by Poles, Swedes, Germans, Bohemians and others.

Topics and series. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: African Americans • Immigration • Industry & Commerce. In addition, it is included in the Illinois & Michigan Canal series list.

Location. 41° 32.182′ N, 88° 4.815′ W. Marker is in Joliet, Illinois, in Will County. It is at the intersection of Columbia Street and Illinois Route 53, on the left when traveling east on Columbia Street. Marker is located at the entrance of Joliet Iron Works Park. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 31 Columbia St, Joliet IL 60432, United States of America. Touch for directions.

Regionally, this marker is in Greater Chicago.

It is also in the American Midwest

and on the Great Lakes.

Globally, it is in North America,

the Western

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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: Forging a City of Steel (about 400 feet away, measured in a direct line); Ruby Street Bridge (about 600 feet away); Original Dairy Queen Store (approx. ¼ mile away); Men of Steel (approx. ¼ mile away); What's Cooking? (approx. ¼ mile away); High Risks & Hard Work (approx. ¼ mile away); Language Barriers (approx. 0.3 miles away); Jackson Street Bridge (approx. 0.4 miles away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Joliet.

Photographed by Jason Voigt, September 30, 2020

2. George Kiser, Iron Works laborer Marker

Marker is located at the entrance to Joliet Iron Works Park, next to its supplemental interpretive statue.

Credits. This page was last revised on June 29, 2026. It was originally submitted on October 17, 2020, by Jason Voigt of Glen Carbon, Illinois. This page has been viewed 339 times since then and 23 times this year. Photos: 1, 2. submitted on October 17, 2020, by Jason Voigt of Glen Carbon, Illinois.