Downtown Davenport in Scott County, Iowa — The American Midwest (Upper Plains)

St. Anthony's Church & Parish

— Davenport Civil Rights History Walking Tour —

Photographed by Duane and Tracy Marsteller, July 9, 2022

1. St. Anthony's Church & Parish Marker

Inscription.
Davenport's civil rights movement is unique because of the significant support it received from the local Catholic community, including the Catholic Diocese of Davenport and St. Anthony's Parish, in front of you. A significant number of parish members joined the Catholic Interfaith Council (CIC, 19578-1977) and attended civil rights events. One of the most important events in Davenport's civil rights movement was launched here. On August 23, 1963, the CIC and other organizations gathered close to 2,000 marchers as a prelude to the August 28 Civil Rights Rally in Washington, D.C. Some marchers came down Main Street's hill from other churches to join the [unreadable] in the parking lot. The march's participants went from Main Street to 2nd Street and then to Ripley where they then met additional marchers. They then walked to LeClaire Park's band shell for the main rally.

This march and rally played an important role in convincing Iowa's legislature to pass a fair employment practices law. This march was also a prelude to the famous August 28, 1963 March on Washington, D.C., which included five local marchers.

Topics.

Paid Advertisement

Click or scan to see
this page online

This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: African Americans • Civil Rights • Religion & Religious Structures. A significant historical date for this entry is August 23, 1963.

Location. 41° 31.46′ N, 90° 34.525′ W. Marker has been reported unreadable. Marker is in Davenport, Iowa, in Scott County. It is in Downtown Davenport. It is at the intersection of North Main Street and West 5th Street, on the right when traveling north on North Main Street. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 417 N Main St, Davenport IA 52801, United States of America. Touch for directions.

Regionally, this marker is in the Quad Cities

and in Eastern Iowa. It is also in the American Midwest,

in the Corn Belt,

and in the Great River Road Region.

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 Louisiana Purchase.

Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within walking distance of this location: St. Anthony's Roman Catholic Church (within shouting distance of this

Photographed by Duane and Tracy Marsteller, July 9, 2022

2. St. Anthony's Church & Parish Marker

marker); The Democrat Newspaper Building (about 400 feet away); The LeClaire House Hotel (approx. 0.2 miles away); Corner of Ripley and Third Streets (approx. 0.2 miles away); First Chiropractic Adjustment (approx. ¼ mile away); E.S. Barrows House (approx. ¼ mile away); Argyle Flats (approx. ¼ mile away); Hose Station No. 1 (approx. 0.3 miles away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Davenport.

Another marker is no longer nearby. Hibernian Hall (was about 400 feet away, measured in a direct line but has been confirmed missing).

More about this marker. Inscription provided by the Davenport Civil Rights Commission.

Credits. This page was last revised on September 22, 2024. It was originally submitted on July 13, 2022, by Duane and Tracy Marsteller of Murfreesboro, Tennessee. This page has been viewed 308 times since then and 19 times this year. Photos: 1, 2. submitted on July 13, 2022, by Duane and Tracy Marsteller of Murfreesboro, Tennessee.