Rogers Park in Chicago in Cook County, Illinois — The American Midwest (Great Lakes)
Indian Boundary Lines
Photographed By Sean Flynn, March 11, 2024
1. Indian Boundary Lines Marker
Clark Street honors George Rogers Clark, whose brother, William Clark, with Ninian Edwards and Auguste Chouteau, in 1816 negotiated Indian treaty ceding land including Chicago site from Rogers Avenue to Lake Calumet.
Authenticated by the Chicago Historical Society
Erected 1937 by Chicago’s Charter Jubilee.
Topics and series. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Native Americans • Roads & Vehicles • Settlements & Settlers • Wars, US Indian. In addition, it is included in the Chicago's Charter Jubilee series list. A significant historical year for this entry is 1816.
Location. 42° 0.975′ N, 87° 40.503′ W. Marker is in Chicago, Illinois, in Cook County. It is in Rogers Park. Marker is at the intersection of North Rogers Avenue and North Clark Street, on the right when traveling west on North Rogers Avenue. The marker is on the south-facing side of the 7401 S. Clark St. building, which, as of March 2024, houses a wine and spirits shop. The marker is partially obscured by an electrical box. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 7407 North Clark Street, Chicago IL 60626, United States of America. Touch for directions.
Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within 2 miles of this marker, measured as the crow flies. Burr Tillstrom (approx. 0.4 miles away); Emil Bach House
this page online
More about this marker. This plaque is one of 78 placed throughout the city by the Chicago Charter Jubilee in celebration of the 100th anniversary of Chicago’s city charter. A seal of the City of Chicago is at the bottom of the marker. A box for city lights is placed right in front of the marker, which can make it hard to notice from the street.
Regarding Indian Boundary Lines. Clark Street spans 98 blocks of Chicago beginning about ¼ mile north of this marker where it meets Howard Avenue at Chicago's border with Evanston (and becomes Chicago Avenue) and ending about 12 miles away on Chicago's south side, at Cermak Road (22nd Street). While the downtown
Photographed By Sean Flynn, March 11, 2024
2. Indian Boundary Lines Marker
The city erected a lighting box in front of the marker, partially obscuring it from street view.
While some Chicago Jubilee markers are known for text that is perhaps historically questionable (despite being "authenticated by the Chicago Historical Society"), this one appears to be backed by the history. George Rogers Clark was a Revolutionary War military officer from Virginia who led militiamen on the Illinois campaign, where they captured several important British posts in what is today Indiana and Illinois. Clark's younger brother William, referenced on this plaque, was the youngest of 10 children and 18 years younger than George. He is certainly the best-remembered of his family, however, as he and Meriwether Lewis joined forces for the famed Lewis and Clark expedition to what is now the U.S. Northwest.
The treaty referenced on this plaque is the 1816 Treaty of St. Louis, which, most importantly, ceded land to the United States that connected Chicago and Lake Michigan with the Illinois River, which empties into the Mississippi. A little more than 30 years later, the Illinois and Michigan Canal would be completed, connecting the Great Lakes with the Mississippi.
Photographed By Sean Flynn, March 11, 2024
3. Indian Boundary Lines Marker
A little bit of the marker can be seen behind the lighting box on the right side of the photo. Clark Street can be seen on the far left.
Also see . . .
1. Treaty with the Ottawa, Etc. Forest County Potawatomi website homepage:
The text of the Treaty of St. Louis, signed August 24, 1816, which ceded land whose northern boundary is memorialized with this marker. (Submitted on March 12, 2024, by Sean Flynn of Oak Park, Illinois.)
2. A Rogers Park Plaque Marks How US Grabbed Indigenous People’s Land That Became Chicago. Block Club Chicago website entry:
Subhead: "The Indian Boundary Lines plaque is one of 40 controversial monuments being reconsidered in a city program." The article looks at discussions about whether the plaque should remain, and if so whether it needs an accompanying plaque to explain more of the history behind it. (Submitted on March 12, 2024, by Sean Flynn of Oak Park, Illinois.)
3. Indians Cede the Land. An article from the Smithsonian Institution about paintings related to this Indian Boundary. (Submitted on March 12, 2024, by Sean Flynn of Oak Park, Illinois.)
Library of Congress, circa 1807
4. "William Clark, head-and-shoulders portrait, right profile"
An engraving of William Clark by the artist Charles Balthazar Julien Fevret de Saint-Mémin
Chicago Daily News Collection, Chicago History Museum, circa 1906
5. "Woman standing next to a George Rogers Clark statue"
An early 20th century photograph from the Chicago Daily News shows a woman with a statue of George Rogers Clark. It is not known where the photo was taken.
Credits. This page was last revised on March 12, 2024. It was originally submitted on March 11, 2024, by Sean Flynn of Oak Park, Illinois. This page has been viewed 49 times since then. Photos: 1, 2, 3. submitted on March 11, 2024, by Sean Flynn of Oak Park, Illinois. 4, 5. submitted on March 12, 2024, by Sean Flynn of Oak Park, Illinois.
