Shelbyville in Shelby County, Illinois — The American Midwest (Great Lakes)

Mrs. Josephine Garis Cochran

1839-1913

Photographed by Jason Voigt, December 15, 2021

1. Mrs. Josephine Garis Cochran Marker

this is also known as the "dishwasher monument"

Inscription. In a woodshed located at the rear of this site in 1886

Mrs. Josephine Garis Cochran

Invented one of the first mechanical dishwashers ever built. She exhibited her patented machines at the Columbian Exposition in Chicago in 1893, winning the highest award.

Thus was born, over 100 years ago, the progenitor of today's KitchenAid dishwasher, the brainchild of one of America's first female inventors, a woman from Shelbyville, Illinois.

Erected 1993.

Topics. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Science & Medicine • Women. A significant historical year for this entry is 1886.

Location. 39° 24.355′ N, 88° 47.626′ W. Marker is in Shelbyville, Illinois, in Shelby County. It is on South Broadway Street south of West Main Street (Illinois Route 16), on the right when traveling south. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 148 S Broadway St, Shelbyville IL 62565, 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

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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: Lincoln's Court Cases (within shouting distance of this marker); Abraham Lincoln - Eighth Judicial District (approx. 0.2 miles away); "Let's Debate" by John McClarey (approx. 0.2 miles away); Lincoln - Thornton Debate (approx. 0.2 miles away); Soldiers and Sailors Monument (approx. 0.2 miles away); Freedom Square (approx. 0.2 miles away); Revolutionary War Soldiers Buried in Shelby County Memorial (approx. 0.2 miles away); Lincoln-Thornton Debate / Lincoln Circuit (approx. 0.2 miles away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Shelbyville.

More about this marker. Marker repeats on both sides.

Regarding Mrs. Josephine Garis Cochran. This is also known as "the dishwasher monument" or Josephine Cochran Monument.

Also see . . . Josephine Cochrane on Wikipedia. Cochrane is credited to have said "If nobody else is going to invent a dish washing machine, I'll

Photographed by Jason Voigt, December 15, 2021

2. Mrs. Josephine Garis Cochran Marker

Marker is in front of private property.

do it myself!" after being tired of her china getting chipped while handwashing them. It was also her mission to relieve housewives from washing dishes after dinners so they could have more rest. Cochrane was a wealthy socialite when her husband was alive (he died in 1883) and she would always serve guests their food on her special china. In 1850, an American man named Joel Houghton invented the first hand-cranked dishwasher. He would be followed by L.A. Alexander, who invented another dishwasher but this time, using racks. But it was Cochrane's invention that was successful and pave the way for modern dishwashers in later years. (Submitted on December 17, 2021, by Jason Voigt of Glen Carbon, Illinois.)

Additional keywords. technology

Credits. This page was last revised on December 17, 2021. It was originally submitted on December 17, 2021, by Jason Voigt of Glen Carbon, Illinois. This page has been viewed 1,224 times since then and 91 times this year. Photos: 1, 2. submitted on December 17, 2021, by Jason Voigt of Glen Carbon, Illinois.