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. This monument and memorial is listed in this topic list: War, US Civil.
Location. 42° 17.869′ N, 89° 37.312′ W. Marker is in Freeport, Illinois, in Stephenson County. Memorial 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. Marker is at or near this postal address: 15 North Galena Avenue, Freeport IL 61032, United States of America. Touch for directions.
Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within walking distance of this marker. The Debates and the Media (approx. 0.2 miles away); Early Slavery Issues (approx. 0.2 miles away); Welcome to Debate Square (approx. 0.2 miles away); Kansas-Nebraska Act (approx. 0.2 miles away); Second Lincoln-Douglas Debate Monument (approx. 0.2 miles away); Boulder Dedication (approx. 0.2 miles away); Stephen A. Douglas (approx. 0.2 miles away); Abraham Lincoln (approx. ¼ mile away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Freeport.
Also see . . . Soldiers' Monument registration for National Register of Historic Places. The 1998
this page online
Additional commentary.
1.
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 county's Civil War veterans.
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.
Photographed By Sean Flynn, May 28, 2022
2. Soldiers' Monument (Stephenson County, Illinois) Marker
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 February 24, 2024. It was originally submitted on June 2, 2022, by Sean Flynn of Oak Park, Illinois. This page has been viewed 207 times since then and 34 times this year. Last updated on July 19, 2023, by Sean Flynn of Oak Park, Illinois. Photos: 1, 2. submitted on June 2, 2022, by Sean Flynn of Oak Park, Illinois. 3. submitted on February 24, 2024, by Sean Flynn of Oak Park, Illinois. • Devry Becker Jones was the editor who published this page.
