At this Place: Illinois Monument

VICKSBURG, Miss. (VDN) — The Illinois Monument was dedicated on Oct. 26, 1906, at the Vicksburg National Military Park before thousands of spectators, including many Illinois Civil War veterans who traveled to attend the event. The celebration featured a parade through the park, a band, and a formal dedication ceremony.

Modeled after the Roman Pantheon, the Illinois monument was designed by architect William Le Baron Jenney and sculptor Charles Mulligan. It was funded by the state of Illinois at a total cost of $194,423.92. The stairway, made of granite quarried from Stone Mountain, Georgia, consists of 47 steps—one for each day of the Siege of Vicksburg. Inside, 60 bronze tablets list the names of all 36,325 Illinois soldiers who participated in the campaign. A bronze eagle, sculpted by Fredrick C. Hibbard, sits atop the monument’s entrance.

The Old Court House Museum houses an extensive collection of historic photographs from Vicksburg and Warren County. Those interested in obtaining prints for personal or business use can contact the museum for more information.

Starting in 2022, Chris Bolm began to take images from the Old Court House Museum‘s photo collections and pinpoint their current locations and replicate the shot. Bolm named the series “Then and Now.”