Freeport Township in Stephenson County, Illinois — The American Midwest (Great Lakes)

Freeport Commemorates

— Lincoln-Douglas Debate Square —

Photographed by Cosmos Mariner, September 11, 2023

1. Freeport Commemorates Marker

Inscription.
1903
President Theodore Roosevelt came to Freeport to dedicate Debate Rock, a boulder of red granite with a plaque, which was presented to the people by the Freeport Woman's Club.

1958
Freeport marked the 100th anniversary of the debate. A key feature of the activities for the Centennial was a parade which drew an estimated 50,000 people. Illinois Governor William Stratton and United States Senators Paul Douglas (D-IL) and Evert Dirksen (R-IL) were among the dignitaries who came to town for the event.

1994
C-SPAN sponsored re-enactments of all seven of the Lincoln-Douglas Debates that were televised live on its cable television network. Freeport's re-enactment was held at Oakdale Nature Preserve to simulate the park-like setting of the original 1858 Freeport debate.

2008
The 150th anniversary of the Freeport Debate was marked with four days of activities, which again included a massive parade, followed by the presentation of the live program, Reunion Tour '08 staged in Debate Square.

Topics and series. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Communications • Government & Politics • Parks & Recreational Areas.

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In addition, it is included in the Former U.S. Presidents: #16 Abraham Lincoln, and the Former U.S. Presidents: #26 Theodore Roosevelt series lists. A significant historical date for this entry is August 27, 1858.

Location. 42° 18.038′ N, 89° 37.18′ W. Marker is in Freeport, Illinois, in Stephenson County. It is in Freeport Township. It can be reached from East Douglas Street (Illinois Route 75) just east of North State Avenue, on the left when traveling east. The marker is located along the walkway in Lincoln-Douglas Debate Square. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 114 East Douglas Street, Freeport IL 61032, United States of America. Touch for directions.

Regionally, this marker 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 markers are within walking distance of this marker: The Freeport Lincoln-Douglas Debate (here, next to this marker); Lincoln and Douglas in Debate 1858

Marker detail: President Roosevelt, 1903 image. Click for full size.

Stephenson County Historical Society Collection

2. Marker detail: President Roosevelt, 1903

Standing in the middle of the photo is President Theodore Roosevelt, his top hat raised as he greets the dignitaries on the platform.

(a few steps from this marker); Debates' Structure (a few steps from this marker); Abraham Lincoln (a few steps from this marker); Douglas Re-elected (a few steps from this marker); Robert J. Schmelzle (a few steps from this marker); Stephen A. Douglas (a few steps from this marker); Richard F. Sokup (a few steps from this marker). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Freeport.

Related markers. Click here for a list of markers that are related to this marker. 2nd Lincoln-Douglas Debate • Freeport, Illinois

Also see . . .
1. Second Debate: Freeport, Illinois. National Park Service website entry (Submitted on July 19, 2025, by Larry Gertner of New York, New York.)

2. Freeport Doctrine. Wikipedia entry (Submitted on July 19, 2025, by Larry Gertner of New York, New York.)

Marker detail: Debate Centennial, 1958 image. Click for full size.

by Dwight Garnhart/Stephenson County Historical Society Collection

3. Marker detail: Debate Centennial, 1958

Part of the tightly packed crowd viewing the downtown parade. The float was presented by the Stephenson County Bar Association and depicts attorney Lincoln arguing a case before the Illinois Supreme Court. At the time, Stephen A. Douglas was a Justice on that court.

Marker detail: Debate Re-enactment, 1994 image. Click for more information.

Photographed by Olga Carlile, Freeport Remembers

4. Marker detail: Debate Re-enactment, 1994

Published by the Lincoln-Douglas Society, 1995. Richard F. Sokup portrayed Senator Stephen A. Douglas for this event, as well as for the 1958 Centennial.
C-SPAN video of the 1994 staging (3h 19m 30s)
Click for more information.

Marker detail: Tim Connors as Stephen A. Douglas, 2008 image. Click for full size.

5. Marker detail: Tim Connors as Stephen A. Douglas, 2008

Tim Connors, portraying Senator Stephen A. Douglas, waves to the crowd on the downtown parade route.

Photographed by Cosmos Mariner, September 11, 2023

6. Freeport Commemorates Marker

(looking east through Lincoln-Douglas Debate Square • Lincoln-Douglas Debate sculpture in background)

Credits. This page was last revised on July 19, 2025. It was originally submitted on September 25, 2023, by Cosmos Mariner of Cape Canaveral, Florida. This page has been viewed 301 times since then and 26 times this year. Photos: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6. submitted on September 26, 2023, by Cosmos Mariner of Cape Canaveral, Florida.