Rockford in Winnebago County, Illinois — The American Midwest (Great Lakes)

Memorial Hall

1. Memorial Hall Marker

Inscription. This Memorial Hall, the first of its kind in the United States, dedicated to our Veterans of all wars, was completed in the year 1903 with dedication ceremonies on June Third of that year by our twenty-sixth President Theodore Roosevelt with these words.

"No more fitting memorial could be erected to the men who fought, than a hall such as this..... a hall beautiful because of the uses to which it is consecrated."

Erected 1966 by Winnebago County Board.

Topics and series. This memorial is listed in these topic lists: War of 1812 • War, French and Indian • War, Mexican-American • War, Spanish-American • War, US Civil • War, US Revolutionary. In addition, it is included in the Former U.S. Presidents: #26 Theodore Roosevelt series list. A significant historical year for this entry is 1903.

Location. 42° 16.36′ N, 89° 5.599′ W. Memorial is in Rockford, Illinois, in Winnebago County. It is on North Main Street south of West Jefferson Street, on the right when traveling north. Marker is located in front of the west or main entrance steps to Veterans Memorial Hall and Museum. Touch for map. Memorial is at or near this postal address: 211 North Main Street, Rockford IL 61101, United States of America. Touch for directions.

Regionally, this memorial 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

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7 miles of this marker, measured as the crow flies: Victory (within shouting distance of this marker); Jesse Barloga's Architecture (about 500 feet away, measured in a direct line); Ho-no-ne-gah (about 800 feet away); The William Brown Building (approx. ¼ mile away); Cheap Trick / Germanicus Kent (approx. 0.4 miles away); Stephen Mack (approx. 6½ miles away); Black Hawk (approx. 6½ miles away); Theodore Roosevelt (approx. 6½ miles away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Rockford.

More about this memorial. Marker is carved from a single block of granite.

Photographed by Mark Parker, July 17, 2023

2. Memorial Hall Marker

June 3, 1903 Dedication of Veterans Memorial Hall by President T. Roosevelt image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Leanne Wright

3. June 3, 1903 Dedication of Veterans Memorial Hall by President T. Roosevelt

A view of the crowds looking south on Main Street.

Credits. This page was last revised on January 7, 2025. It was originally submitted on July 11, 2016, by Leanne Wright of Rockford, Illinois. This page has been viewed 879 times since then and 21 times this year. Photos: 1. submitted on July 11, 2016, by Leanne Wright of Rockford, Illinois. 2. submitted on December 1, 2024, by Mark Parker of Hickory, North Carolina. 3. submitted on July 11, 2016, by Leanne Wright of Rockford, Illinois. • Bernard Fisher was the editor who published this page.