Category Archives: Markers

‘The Wedding of the Rose and the Lotus’ (Vachel Lindsay)

Springfield poet Vachel Lindsay wrote The Wedding of the Rose and the Lotus in 1912 to recognize the importance of the Panama Canal, which connected the Atlantic and Pacific oceans. The rose signifies the West and the lotus the East. … Continue reading

Posted in Arts and letters, Buildings, Lindsay, Vachel, Markers, Prominent figures | 1 Comment

Camp Yates

At the start of the Civil War, the Sangamon County Fairgrounds on the western outskirts of Springfield was hastily converted into a mustering and training camp for new recruits and militias from around the state. Called Camp Yates, after Illinois’ Civil … Continue reading

Posted in Markers, Military, Uncategorized | Tagged , | 2 Comments

Revolutionary War veterans buried in Sangamon County

This entry has been updated. A marker on the Old Capitol Plaza identifies 27 veterans of the American Revolution who are buried in Sangamon County, but that figure probably identifies only half of the patriots whose final resting places are … Continue reading

Posted in Early residents, Markers, Military, Prominent figures, Resources | Tagged | 2 Comments

Robert Pulliam: First settler?

Robert Pulliam (1776-1838) is usually credited with building the first cabin in Sangamon County and therefore being the county’s first European settler. Historical markers near the site of his first cabin (below) and in downtown Springfield identify him as the … Continue reading

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Race riot of 1908

At least 11 people died and many more were injured in connection with the Springfield race riot of August 1908. Another casualty was the image that Springfield, Abraham Lincoln’s home town, was immune to the racial discord that characterized American … Continue reading

Posted in African Americans, Disasters, Law enforcement, Markers, Race riot of 1908, Resources, Springfield | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , | 16 Comments

Sangamon County centennial marker dedication, 1921

Ten children were the ceremonial participants a century ago, when the Springfield Chapter Daughters of the American Revolution organized a 100th-anniversary commemoration of the founding of Sangamon County. The DAR sponsored the installation of a plaque, mounted on a granite … Continue reading

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Donner Party: Emigrant tragedy

The Donner Party left Springfield to emigrate to California on April 14, 1846, but became stranded in deep snow near present-day Truckee, Calif. The group’s experience is remembered today primarily because, before the surviving members of the expedition were rescued, … Continue reading

Posted in Disasters, Early residents, Markers, Prominent figures | Tagged , , , , | 10 Comments