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

The Spirit of the American Doughboy

Photographed by Sean P. Flynn, December 16, 2025

1. The Spirit of the American Doughboy Marker

Inscription. The American Legion Post 43 erected this sculpture in honor of those from Naperville who served in world war 1. Artist E.M. Viquesney created the mold for the doughboy and supervised the factory production in Spencer, Indiana. Calling the doughboy his "greatest and most sincere effort," Viquesney aimed to capture every detail of the American soldier. His intent was to create a democratic war memorial honoring the common soldier in each hometown throughout the United States. Today the doughboy remains one of the most viewed outdoor sculptures in America. It stands proudly in over 135 locations including Burlington Square Park, for many years the gateway to Naperville.

Artist: E.M. Viquesney
Dedicated: May 31, 1926

Conservator: Giorgio Gikas
Rededicated: May 25, 2003

Erected 2003 by Naperville Century Walk.

Topics and series. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Arts, Letters, Music • Fraternal or Sororal Organizations • Parks & Recreational Areas • War, World I. In addition, it is included in the Spirit of the American Doughboy - E. M. Viquesney series list. A significant historical date for this entry is May 31, 1926.

Location. 41° 46.743′ N,

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88° 8.748′ W. Marker is in Naperville, Illinois, in DuPage County. It is on Center Street north of North Avenue, on the left when traveling south. The marker is near the statue it discusses, on the western end of Burlington Square Park. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 101-199 North Avenue, Naperville IL 60540, United States of America. Touch for directions.

Regionally, this marker 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 distance of this marker: Naperville World War I Dead (here, next to this marker); World War I Memorial (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

Burlington Square Park image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Sean P. Flynn, December 16, 2025

2. Burlington Square Park

(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.

Regarding The Spirit of the American Doughboy. Naperville's Doughboy statue was erected on Memorial Day of 1926. Nearby is another plaque, dedicated in 1920 and originally in the center of this park, which lists the seven Naperville men who died in World War I. A modern plaque near the flagpole in the center of the park lists all of the Naperville men who fought in World War I.

The Naperville Doughboy statue is one of at least three such statues in Illinois. The most prominent is likely the one 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 . . . Doughboy Database: Naperville, Illinois. A blog devoted to E.M. Viquesney's "Spirit of the American Doughboy" statue looks at the history of Naperville's version, which was dedicated in 1926 and restored in 2003. (Submitted on December 17, 2025, by Sean P. Flynn of Oak Park, Illinois.)

Naperville World War I Dead plaque and Doughboy statue image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Sean P. Flynn, December 16, 2025

3. Naperville World War I Dead plaque and Doughboy statue

The historical marker about the statue is behind and to the right of where this photo was taken.

Doughboy statue image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Sean P. Flynn, December 16, 2025

4. Doughboy statue

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 80 times since then and 41 times this year. Photos: 1, 2, 3, 4. submitted on December 17, 2025, by Sean P. Flynn of Oak Park, Illinois.