Stephen A. Douglas Tomb

The Stephen A. Douglas Tomb is a granite monument in Bronzeville composed of a 96-foot central structure with three circular bases and an octagonal mausoleum. The memorial contains the senator's remains within its formal stone chambers.

Construction of the monument began in 1866 and was completed in 1881, with Illinois state funding approved in 1877 to finish the memorial. The site was built to honor the senator who played a central role in shaping American politics during the 1800s.

The four bronze figures at the corners of the mausoleum represent Illinois, History, Justice, and Eloquence. They embody the values that shaped the senator's public life and legacy.

The memorial sits at the intersection of 35th Street and Cottage Grove Avenue and is easily accessible from the street. The location occupies land that was once part of Douglas's Oakenwald estate.

A 46-foot white marble column from Vermont, the senator's birthplace, crowns the structure and supports a statue of Douglas at its top. This column links the memorial directly to his origins in a northern state.

Location: Chicago

Website: https://dnrhistoric.illinois.gov/experience/sites/site.douglas-tomb.html

GPS coordinates: 41.83165,-87.60846

Latest update: December 9, 2025 18:49