Stephen A. Douglas Tomb facts for kids
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Douglas Tomb State Memorial
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| Location | 636 E. 35th Street Chicago, Illinois 60616 |
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| Built | 1861 |
| Architect | Leonard W. Volk |
| NRHP reference No. | 76000689 |
Quick facts for kids Significant dates |
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| Added to NRHP | May 28, 1976 |
The Stephen A. Douglas Tomb and Memorial is a special monument in Chicago, Illinois. It is also called the Stephen Douglas Monument Park. This memorial includes the tomb of Stephen A. Douglas, who was a very important United States Senator. He lived from 1813 to 1861.
The memorial is located at 636 E. 35th Street in the Bronzeville neighborhood. This area is part of Chicago's Douglas community. It is also near where a Civil War training camp, Camp Douglas, used to be. This land was once owned by Douglas himself.
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Who Was Stephen A. Douglas?
Stephen A. Douglas was a famous American politician. He is best known for his debates with Abraham Lincoln. These debates were about the topic of slavery in the United States.
Douglas became sick with typhoid fever and died on June 3, 1861. He was buried on the shore of Lake Michigan in Chicago.
What Does the Memorial Look Like?
The memorial is a tall structure made of granite. It stands 96 feet (about 29 meters) high. It has three round bases at the bottom.
At its center is an octagonal (eight-sided) mausoleum. A mausoleum is a building that holds a tomb. Inside, you can find Douglas's sarcophagus, which is a stone coffin.
Around the mausoleum, there are four large bronze statues. These statues represent important ideas like "Illinois," "History," "Justice," and "Eloquence." Eloquence means being good at speaking.
The main base of the memorial has four bas-reliefs. These are carvings that stick out from a flat surface. They show the progress of American civilization.
On top of the memorial, there is a 46-foot (about 14 meters) column. This column is made of white marble from Douglas's home state, Vermont. A ten-foot (about 3 meters) statue of Stephen A. Douglas stands proudly on top of this column.
Building the Memorial
After Stephen A. Douglas died, some important people in Chicago wanted to build a suitable tomb and monument for him. However, they could not raise enough money at first.
In 1865, the state of Illinois bought the tomb land from Douglas's wife, Adele Douglas. They paid $25,000 for it. On June 3, 1868, Douglas's body was moved into the part of the tomb that was finished.
Leonard Volk, who was related to Douglas, designed the tomb and monument. Sadly, in 1871, the Great Chicago Fire destroyed Volk's plans for the parts that were not yet built.
Even with this setback, the tomb was finally completed in May 1881. The total cost for the memorial was about $90,000.
Protecting the Memorial
The Stephen A. Douglas Tomb and Memorial is an important historical site. On September 28, 1977, it was named a Chicago Landmark.
The Illinois Historic Preservation Agency takes care of the tomb. They make sure it stays in good condition as a state historic site.
Recently, there have been discussions about the statue. Some people have raised concerns about Stephen A. Douglas's historical views.
See also
In Spanish: Tumba de Stephen A. Douglas para niños
