Alto Pass in Union County, Illinois — The American Midwest (Great Lakes)
In Memory of Wayland R. Presley
1896- 1990
Photographed by Thomas Smith
1. In Memory of Wayland R. Presley Marker
Who shared a vision of the cross of peace in 1937, and dedicated the rest of his life to building and maintaining it.
Dedicated 1993 by his wife Tressie S. Presley
Erected 1993.
Topics. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Arts, Letters, Music • Peace. A significant historical year for this entry is 1890.
Location. 37° 33.114′ N, 89° 20.803′ W. Marker is in Alto Pass, Illinois, in Union County. It can be reached from Bald Knob Road 5 miles south of Milligan Hill Road, on the left when traveling south. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 3735 Bald Knob Rd, Alto Pass IL 62905, United States of America. Touch for directions.
Regionally, this marker is in Southern Illinois Little Egypt and in Shawnee Hills. 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 Northwest Territory.
Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within 6 miles of this marker, measured as the crow flies: "Building the Cross" (within shouting distance of this marker); "The Cross in the New Millennium" (within shouting distance of this marker); "The Pig Lady and the Cross" (within shouting distance of this marker); "The Beginning of the Cross" (within shouting distance of this marker); "Funding the Cross" (within shouting distance of this marker); "The Symbol" (within shouting distance of this marker); Rendleman Orchards Historic District (approx. 3.3 miles away); Veterans Memorial (approx. 6.1 miles away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Alto Pass.
Credits. This page was last revised on November 11, 2025. It was originally submitted on September 28, 2025, by Thomas Smith of Waterloo, Ill. This page has been viewed 57 times since then and 14 times this year. Photo 1. submitted on September 28, 2025, by Thomas Smith of Waterloo, Ill. • Devry Becker Jones was the editor who published this page.
Editor’s want-list for this marker. A photo of the peace cross • Can you help?
