On Illinois Route 41 at Cherry Grove Cemetery Road, on the right when traveling south on State Route 41.
A Cumberland Presbyterian School, stood on the knoll west of this spot. It was founded by George Latimer, a grandson of Col. Jonathan Latimer and served the community as church and school for thirty years, when it was united with the school at . . . — — Map (db m155971) HM
Near South Cherry Street, 0.1 miles south of East South Street, on the left when traveling north.
This tablet commemorates the one hundredth anniversary of the fifth debate between Abraham Lincoln & Stephen A. Douglas held on this site October seventh 1858. — — Map (db m229137) HM
On South Broad Street north of East Tompkins Street, on the right when traveling north.
Site of Beecher Chapel, first brick church in Galesburg, built in 1858 and named after its first minister, Edward Beecher. Often used as a stop on the Underground Railroad. Razed 1966. — — Map (db m230127) HM
On East 3rd Street east of South Kellogg Street, on the left when traveling east.
Carl Sandburg, poet and historian, was born in this modest three-room cottage
on January 6, 1878. He was the son of a Swedish immigrant railroad worker. Carl
attended Lombard College in Galesburg, and his first poetry was published in
this town. . . . — — Map (db m150543) HM
On East 3rd Street just east of South Kellogg Street, on the left when traveling east.
Carl Sandburg (1878-1967), the Pulitzer Prize-winning poet and Lincoln biographer, was born in the adjacent three-room cottage and grew up in Galesburg. The Illinois prairie landscape of his childhood provided imagery used in his writings, prose, . . . — — Map (db m150544) HM
On East Ferris Street at North Broad Street, on the right when traveling west on East Ferris Street.
Ferris Street
named for
Silvanus Ferris
member of the committee
which purchased the site
of Galesburg in 1835
financial agent and
trustee of Knox College — — Map (db m150555) HM
On Public Square at West Main Street (U.S. 150) on Public Square.
Founded in 1837 by George Washington Gale, who led a group from upper New York State here to establish a Christian manual labor college and a community.
Knox College and the City of Galesburg stand as testimony to the efforts of these . . . — — Map (db m150559) HM
On South Street, on the right when traveling east.
On October 7, 1858, Abraham Lincoln and Stephan A. Douglas met in Galesburg for the fifth of seven joint debates. From a platform erected along the east side of Old Main on the Knox College campus, Lincoln said: "He is blowing out the moral lights . . . — — Map (db m37056) HM
Near Mulberry Street at South Chambers Street, on the right when traveling east.
Given by the Burlington Railroad and located on this site by the citizens of the community to commemorate the coming of the railroad to Galesburg
Dec. 7, 1854
Near East Tompkins Street at South Cherry Street, on the right when traveling east.
In recognition of her patriotic and heroic devotion to the Boys in Blue in camp, in hospital and on the field. The state of Illinois has under the auspices of the Mother Bickerdyke Memorial Association erected this statue 1904 — — Map (db m229140) HM WM
Near East South Street, 0.1 miles west of South Cherry Street, on the right when traveling east.
Scene of the fifth debate between
Abraham Lincoln and Stephen A. Douglas held on the East side of this building October 7, 1858. Restored and rededicated during the Knox College centenary, 1937.
Near South Cherry Street, 0.1 miles south of East South Street, on the left when traveling north.
This table commemorates the one hundredth anniversary of the fifth debate between Abraham Lincoln and Stephen A. Douglas held on this site October seventh 1858 — — Map (db m229139) HM
On South Cherry Street just south of East South Street, on the right when traveling south.
[Left panel]
Lincoln and Douglas
debated here on October 7, 1858.
Their joint meeting was one of seven across Illinois as they
contested Stephen A. Douglas's seat in the Senate that summer and fall. Here in . . . — — Map (db m150565) HM
On South Kellogg Street north of East Simmons Street, on the right when traveling north.
Designed by C. W. & George L. Rapp, built 1915-16 for the “princely sum” of $135,000, it opened in August, 1916. Forming part of the “Orpheum Circuit” which included such performers as the Marx Brothers, George Burns and . . . — — Map (db m150567) HM
Near East South Street, 0.1 miles west of South Cherry St, on the right when traveling east.
This Memorial Tablet is placed here to recall the joint debate between Abraham Lincoln and Stephen A. Douglas, whose words these walls echoed October the 7th 1858.
"Equality among the different states is a cardinal principle upon . . . — — Map (db m229130) HM
On West Tompkins Street at South Broad Street, on the right when traveling west on West Tompkins Street.
Tompkins Street
named for
Samuel Tompkins
Member of the committee
which purchased the site
of Galesburg in 1835, and
who carried surveyors
chain when the town was
laid out. — — Map (db m150564) HM
On North Broad Street at Public Square, on the right when traveling south on North Broad Street.
First built on this site in 1869, destroyed by fire and subsequently rebuilt in 1872. Built in a grand manner of brick and stone, it stood four stories high. Later re-named the Broadview Hotel, it was once again destroyed by fire in 1969. — — Map (db m150556) HM
On East Main Street (U.S. 150) east of North Market Street, on the right when traveling west.
[Main marker] This building, first conceived as a
fire proof structure with iron window
shutters and an iron floor, originally
housed the county clerk, recorder and
county records.
[Secondary marker]
Knox County Hall of . . . — — Map (db m229922) HM
On East Main Street (U.S. 150) east of North Market Street, on the right when traveling west.
In honor of
the men of Knox Township who
served our country in the World War
1917 — 1918
★ Jacobson, Arthur E. • ★ Mangion, Thomas E. • ★ Philblad, Harry • ★ Unger, Edwin A.
Adams, Edward E. •
Alleman, . . . — — Map (db m229920) WM
On East Main Street (U.S. 150) west of East Public Square, on the right when traveling west.
Tribute is here paid to Knoxville community
members who answered the call to service
★ Killed in service
World War II
Theodore Abernathy • Rowen Aldrich • John H. Anderson Jr. • James E. Bainbridge • William Bainbridge • John . . . — — Map (db m229836) WM
On East Main Street (U.S. 150) west of East Public Square, on the right when traveling west.
This building replaced a two-story
log structure and housed Knox County
offices and court for thirty-three years.
Stephen A. Douglas presided over the
1841-1843 sessions of the district court.
Knox County Museum is located here
on the second . . . — — Map (db m229831) HM
On East Main Street (U.S. 150) at East Public Square, on the right when traveling west on East Main Street.
Knox County centrally located between the Mississippi the Rock and the Illinois was crossed by trails between the Indian villages on these rivers and by many local trails to villages and camp sites in this county – the Indians traveled the best . . . — — Map (db m229828) HM
On North Market Street north of North Public Square, on the left when traveling north.
[First plaque] Noted for its solitary confinement cells and as the locale of the only legal hanging in Knox County.
[Second plaque]
Knox County Jail
1845 – 1873
Site of the only legal
hanging in Knox County
Listed on the . . . — — Map (db m230121) HM
On Illinois Route 17, 0.6 miles west of Golf Course Road, on the right when traveling east.
In this area stood a Potawatomi village when Michael Fraker arrived from Kentucky about 1830. With kindness and understanding he negotiated a peaceful settlement with the Indians and became the first permanent settler in northeastern Knox County. . . . — — Map (db m150572) HM