Jacksonville in Morgan County, Illinois — The American Midwest (Great Lakes)

Your Charters of Freedom

Photographed by William Fischer, Jr., October 22, 2025

1. Your Charters of Freedom Marker

Inscription.

Declaration of Independence

United States Constitution

Bill of Rights

Gifted by Mary Jo (Cody) Patterson (JHS 1971)
and Vance Patterson (EHS 1968)
Burke County, North Carolina
to the Citizens of Morgan County
on May 30, 2015

"...wherever the people are well informed they can be trusted with their own government" - Thomas Jefferson 1789

".....a people who mean to be their own governors, must arm themselves with the power knowledge gives." James Madison - 1822

"You cannot control what you do not understand" Vance Patterson - 2013

Foundation Forward, Inc.
Vance and Mary Jo Patterson - Founders

Erected 2015 by Foundation Forward, Inc.

Topics. This historical marker is listed in this topic list: Government & Politics. A significant historical date for this entry is July 4, 1776.

Location. 39° 44.077′ N, 90° 13.727′ W. Marker is in Jacksonville, Illinois, in Morgan County. It can be reached from North Central Park. Marker and Charters of Freedom are in the northeast corner of Central Park. Touch for map. Marker is in this post office area: Jacksonville IL 62650, 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: Potawatami Indians (a few steps from this marker); Sesquicentennial Time Capsule

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(a few steps from this marker); Original Survey Point (within shouting distance of this marker); Lincoln and Slavery (within shouting distance of this marker); Civil War Memorial (within shouting distance of this marker); Greene Vardiman Black (about 300 feet away, measured in a direct line); Christian Church (about 300 feet away); Civil War Cannon (about 300 feet away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Jacksonville.

Your Charters of Freedom and Marker image. Click for full size.

Photographed by William Fischer, Jr., October 22, 2025

2. Your Charters of Freedom and Marker

Marker on left stand, partially cut off in photo

Credits. This page was last revised on October 30, 2025. It was originally submitted on October 30, 2025, by William Fischer, Jr. of Reynoldsburg, Ohio. This page has been viewed 50 times since then and 19 times this year. Photos: 1, 2. submitted on October 30, 2025, by William Fischer, Jr. of Reynoldsburg, Ohio.