Naperville in DuPage County, Illinois — The American Midwest (Great Lakes)

World War I Memorial

Photographed by Sean P. Flynn, December 16, 2025

1. World War I Memorial Marker

Inscription. To perpetuate the memory of veterans of the World War

1914 — 1918

Erected 1926.

Topics and series. This memorial is listed in these topic lists: Arts, Letters, Music • War, World I. In addition, it is included in the Spirit of the American Doughboy - E. M. Viquesney series list.

Location. 41° 46.743′ N, 88° 8.752′ W. Memorial is in Naperville, Illinois, in DuPage County. It is on Center Street north of North Avenue, on the left when traveling south. The statue is on the west side of Burlington Square Park. Touch for map. Memorial is at or near this postal address: 101-199 North Avenue, Naperville IL 60540, United States of America. Touch for directions.

Regionally, this memorial is in Greater Chicago.

It is also in the American Midwest.

Globally, it is in North America,

on the Great Lakes,

in the Western Hemisphere,

in the Western World,

and in 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

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distance of this marker: Naperville World War I Dead (here, next to this marker); The Spirit of the American Doughboy (here, next to this marker); Naperville World War I Veterans (a few steps from this marker); Burlington Square (a few steps from this marker); Veterans Memorial Bench (within shouting distance of this marker); The Spirit of the American Navy (within shouting distance of this marker); 5th Avenue Station (approx. 0.2 miles away); First Congregational Church of Naperville (approx. ¼ mile away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Naperville.

More about this memorial. Naperville's "Spirit of the American Doughboy" statue, designed by E.M. Viquesney, was unveiled on Memorial Day 1926. It was rededicated on Memorial Day 2003 after an extensive restoration.

A 1920 plaque sits in front of this statue; a nearby 2003 historical marker shares the history of this statue. Facing this statue on the opposite side of the park is a "Spirit of the American Navy" statue, also designed by E.M. Viquesney.

Regarding World War I Memorial. This is one of at least three "Spirit of the American Doughboy" statues in Illinois.

Doughboy statue image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Sean P. Flynn, December 16, 2025

2. Doughboy statue

One is in downstate Alton. The other, and likely the most prominent, is inside Chicago's Soldier Field, near the stadium's Gate O; it originally was placed on the top of the monument to 132nd Infantry in that city's Garfield Park.

Also see . . . Atlas Obscura: Why Do So Many U.S. Towns Have the Same WWI Soldier Statue?.

Excerpt: "These doughboy memorials, all featuring the statue and a stone or brick base, can be found in 39 U.S. states. They sit in town squares, in cemeteries, in front of federal buildings, and in parks. There are around 145 of them, and they all look very familiar—for a good reason. These statues are among the first known mass-produced memorials in existence."

(Submitted on December 17, 2025, by Sean P. Flynn of Oak Park, Illinois.)

"Doughboy" statue in Burlington Square Park image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Sean P. Flynn, December 16, 2025

3. "Doughboy" statue in Burlington Square Park

On the opposite (east) end of the park is a rare example of the "Sailorboy" statue, which was designed by E.M. Viquesney but was far less popular than the Doughboy.

Nearby plaque about donors to the Doughboy restoration image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Sean P. Flynn, December 16, 2025

4. Nearby plaque about donors to the Doughboy restoration

Credits. This page was last revised on December 17, 2025. It was originally submitted on December 17, 2025, by Sean P. Flynn of Oak Park, Illinois. This page has been viewed 86 times since then and 33 times this year. Photos: 1, 2. submitted on December 17, 2025, by Sean P. Flynn of Oak Park, Illinois. 3. submitted on December 16, 2025, by Sean P. Flynn of Oak Park, Illinois. 4. submitted on December 17, 2025, by Sean P. Flynn of Oak Park, Illinois.