Freeport in Stephenson County, Illinois — The American Midwest (Great Lakes)
Soldiers' Monument
Photographed by Sean Flynn, May 28, 2022
1. Soldiers' Monument (Stephenson County, Illinois) Marker
of
Stephenson County
1861-1865
Erected 1871.
Topics and series. This monument and memorial is listed in this topic list: War, US Civil. In addition, it is included in the National Register of Historic Places (NRHP) series list.
Location. 42° 17.869′ N, 89° 37.312′ W. Monument is in Freeport, Illinois, in Stephenson County. It is at the intersection of West Stephenson Street and North Galena Street (Business U.S. 20), on the right when traveling west on West Stephenson Street. Located near the southwest corner of the Stephenson County Courthouse. Touch for map. Monument is at or near this postal address: 15 North Galena Avenue, Freeport IL 61032, United States of America. Touch for directions.
Regionally, this memorial monument is 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
this page online
More about this monument. The Soldiers' Monument was unveiled in 1871. It was designed by Smith D. Atkins, a Union general who was raised in Stephenson County. The limestone obelisk portion of the monument is 83 feet tall and is topped by a 2015 statue of Victory, which replaced the original marble statue that was destroyed by lightning in 1960.
The four sides of the base section of the obelisk have eight niches for marble panels, which contain the names of Stephenson County's war dead. In 1924, these marble panels were reversed for preservation, and then covered over by bronze panels that list the names of all of the
Photographed by Sean Flynn, May 28, 2022
2. Soldiers' Monument (Stephenson County, Illinois) Marker
The lower base has four statues representing the infantry, cavalry, artillery and navy. The middle section includes four granite plaques. The plaque facing south toward Stephenson Street dedicates the memorial to the Stephenson County war dead; the other three list major Civil War battles in which county soldiers participated.
The monument was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1998.
Also see . . . Soldiers' Monument registration for National Register of Historic Places. The 1998 form nominating the Stephenson County Soldiers' Monument for the National Register of Historic Places. (Submitted on July 19, 2023, by Sean P. Flynn of Oak Park, Illinois.)
Photographed by Sean Flynn, May 28, 2022
3. Soldiers' Monument
The soldier statues on the upper base of the monument represent the infantry, cavalry, artillery and navy. In the background on the right is Stephenson County's courthouse building, which was erected in 1974.
Credits. This page was last revised on July 16, 2024. It was originally submitted on June 2, 2022, by Sean P. Flynn of Oak Park, Illinois. This page has been viewed 583 times since then and 53 times this year. Last updated on July 19, 2023, by Sean P. Flynn of Oak Park, Illinois. Photos: 1, 2. submitted on June 2, 2022, by Sean P. Flynn of Oak Park, Illinois. 3. submitted on February 24, 2024, by Sean P. Flynn of Oak Park, Illinois. • Devry Becker Jones was the editor who published this page.
