Wild Bill Hickok Memorial

The Wild Bill Hickok Memorial is a bronze bust positioned at the corner of Main and Ottawa Streets in Troy Grove, honoring a famous frontier figure. The sculpture stands at a historic location and is accompanied by informational plaques that provide details about this person's life and times.

The memorial was dedicated in 1929 at the birthplace of James Butler Hickok and marks where his early life began. During the American Civil War, he worked as a scout and spy, experiences that shaped his later career in frontier law enforcement.

The monument honors a frontier figure whose work as lawman and gunfighter shaped how Americans think about the Old West. Visitors can sense the connection to pioneer life and the rough times of frontier settlement at this spot.

The memorial sits one block south of US-52 and is accessible year-round without special requirements for visiting. Plan to spend just a few minutes here in daylight hours when you can read the plaques and see the bronze sculpture clearly.

The bronze bust was placed at the exact location where the childhood home of this frontier figure once stood. This spot literally marks the beginning of one of the American West's most influential lives at its point of origin.

Location: Troy Grove

Inception: 1929

Made from material: bronze

Website: http://illinoishistory.gov/hs/bill_hickok.htm

GPS coordinates: 41.46610,-89.08360

Latest update: December 12, 2025 09:08