Park in Progress

Left image
African American homes burning on Madison Street between 9th and 10th Streets, August 15, 1908.
Credit: Smithsonian National Museum of African American History and Culture

Right image
Madison Street between 9th and 10th Streets today, within the National Monument.
Credit: NPS Photo

 

New national park sites remain in their infancy for the first 10 years after they are established. Springfield 1908 Race Riot National Monument was established on August 16, 2024. Being so new, we have a long way to go and much work to do.

What you might expect from a national park visit – ranger programs, exhibits, onsite facilities – are not yet available. They will come over time as we complete planning and foundational work.

These first actions are often invisible to the public eye. Yet, the National Monument is moving forward. Keep checking in to this page to explore what’s happening, special projects, and how you can be a part of it.

 

About the National Monument

“Monument” may bring to mind statues, carved stone pillars, or bronze plaques. But a “national monument” is a type of park designation. Learn more below!

What is a "National Monument?"

Under the 1906 Antiquities Act, the President may establish a national monument to protect a land area that preserves at least one nationally significant resource. This area must include objects of historic or scientific interest on lands owned or controlled by the Federal Government. National monuments administered by the National Park Service (NPS) are similar to national parks. The NPS protects them for the benefit and inspiration of this and future generations.

Springfield 1908 Race Riot National Monument was designated through Presidential Proclamation on August 16, 2024.

Learn more about National Monuments in the national park system.

Why is this place a National Monument?

Springfield 1908 Race Riot National Monument is significant because of its archeology. The foundations of five homes are still beneath the ground. They were part of an African American neighborhood that newspapers called the “Badlands.” Rioters attacked this neighborhood and burned these homes in 1908.

Artifacts recovered from the homes show us how African American residents lived. They provide contrast to how newspapers characterized their homes. Refined tableware and flowerpots show these families making a life despite rough conditions. Melted bottles and charred toys also remind us of the violence that shattered their lives. They provide a rare and raw reminder of extreme violence against African American communities.

A presidential proclamation established Springfield 1908 Race Riot National Monument on August 16, 2024.Land donations from the City of Springfield and HSHS St. John’s Hospital made it possible. The National Park Foundation provided technical support. Federal Funds were not spent on the land acquisition.

Will there be a physical monument?

Conversations about the site’s physical development have not started yet. Before we discuss adding any physical monuments or structures, the NPS must complete a rigorous planning process.

Planning in the NPS helps parks develop strong foundations for decision-making. It informs how we best protect the site, provide visitor experiences, and plan for funding and staffing realities. The NPS will accomplish this work through collaboration with technical experts, communities, and stakeholders.

This process can take years to complete. But it is worth the time. Strong planning now will help the National Monument achieve its mission to preserve and interpret its stories for the benefit of generations to come.

Learn more about Park Planning in the National Park Service.

 

What's Happening Now?

Working With Lincoln Home National Historic Site

Springfield 1908 Race Riot National Monument is now administered by Lincoln Home National Historic Site.

Working together brings many benefits. More staff and resources will help the National Monument expand services to the public. That includes communication through social media. Check the Lincoln Home NHS Facebook page for updates!

It also includes a contact station in the Lincoln Home NHS visitor center in Springfield, Illinois. Lincoln Home rangers can assist you with visiting information, directions, brochures, and passport stamps. The visitor center is open 9 am to 5 pm central time, 7 days a week.

Please be aware that the mailing address for Springfield 1908 Race Riot National Monument is NOT the same as its physical address.

To visit the National Monument, go to the HSHS ST. John’s Hospital Women and Children’s Clinic Parking Lot: 400 North 9^th Street, Springfield, Illinois 62701.

To contact National Monument staff:

• Call [phone]
• Send letters to: Springfield 1908 Race Riot National Monument, c/o Lincoln Home NHS 413 S. 8^th Street, Springfield, IL 62701
• Email us.

Website Development

Imagine you are planning to go somewhere that you have never gone before. What would you want to know before going? Where would you look for that information?

Is your answer the internet? At least 80% of park visitors will look at a park’s website before they arrive. And many people rely on websites to learn about the park when they can’t visit in person. That includes students and teachers!

With that in mind, the National Monument’s rangers are primarily focusing on building a robust and useful website. We will begin with trip planning information. Then we will work with partners and communities to develop historic information.

We strive to create an excellent online experience. That includes our commitment to accessibility and useability on mobile devices. Keep checking in to see our progress!

We Are Recruiting Volunteers!

Working with Lincoln Home National Historic Site, we are recruiting volunteers!

In these early years, volunteers can make a big difference in the National Monument’s growth. Their time and talents help the Monument complete much needed foundational tasks. And that has a long-lasting impact. Volunteering today will help build a park that lasts for generations to come.

Currently, the site is seeking help with digital content creation and historic research. There will be opportunities to volunteer in other kinds of work as the site develops. That includes helping with interpretive programs, grounds maintenance, and special events.

For more information about volunteering, please contact us.

To see current volunteer opportunities, go to Volunteer.gov. Enter “Lincoln Home National Historic Site” in the search bar.

 

A silent strip of grass marks the location of 5 homes destroyed by rioters in 1908. Visitors can view this feature of the National Monument and informational banners from the HSHS St. John's Hospital Women and Children's Clinic parking lot.

NPS photo.

What to Expect During Your Visit

The National Monument is in its infancy. Many of the products and services you might expect at other parks are not yet available. But there are still plenty of ways to experience this fledgling site!

Know Before You Go!

Facilities and services at the National Monument are limited. Please be prepared for the following:

• Restrooms and water fountains are available Monday through Friday at the HSHS St. John’s Hospital Women and Children’s Clinic, next to the Monument.
• Passport to Your National Parks Stamps® are not available onsite. They are available at the Lincoln Home National Historic Site visitor center (1 mile south).
• Parking is available at the HSHS ST. John’s Hospital parking lot. RVs and busses can park in this lot.
• Park Rangers are not regularly onsite.
• Pets are welcome in the parking lot.

The National Monument does not yet have the following:

• Regularly scheduled ranger programs.
• Junior Ranger programs.
• Unigrid brochures and maps.

 

How to Visit the National Monument

1. Go to the Lincoln Home National Historic Site Visitor Center

Begin your visit to the National Monument at the Lincoln Home National Historic Site visitor center. Rangers can provide you with brochures and directions to the site. The visitor center also has restrooms, a bookstore, Passport to Your National Parks stamps, and parking for cars and RVs.

Address: 426 South 7th Street, Springfield, Illinois 62701
Phone: [phone]
Hours: 9 am to 5 pm, all days of the week.

2. Go to Springfield 1908 Race Riot National Monument

• Address: 400 North 9^th Street, Springfield, Illinois 62701.
• Park in the HSHS St. John’s Hospital Women and Children’s Clinic parking lot. There is parking for RVs, trailers, and busses.
• View the site of homes destroyed by rioters. It is the open grass strip along the railroad tracks. House foundations and artifacts are not visible on the ground surface. How does this landscape still evoke a sense of emptiness?
• Look at informational banners with images of the destroyed neighborhood.

3. Visit the 1908 Race Riot Mural in HSHS St. John's Hospital

• Address: 400 North 9^th Street, Springfield, Illinois 62701. The HSHS St. John's Hospital Women and Children's Clinic is next to the National Monument.
• The clinic is open Monday through Friday, 7 am to 5:30 pm central time.
• You are welcome to walk into the clinic, go to the information desk, and ask to see the mural. They will direct you to it.
• The mural includes information about the riot, how the hospital was connected to it, and the formation of the National Association for the ADvancement of Colored People (NAACP) in response.
• Restrooms and water fountains are available in the clinic.

4. Visit the "Acts of Intolerance" Monument at Union Square Park

• Address: 500 East Madison Street, Springfield, Illinois 62701. The sculpture is on 6^th Street, across from the Abraham Lincoln Presidential Library and Museum.
• The sculpture depicts scenes from the 1908 riot, as well as the community’s response and resilience in the aftermath.
• Find out more from the Abraham Lincoln Presidential Library and Museum.

 

Find more ways to explore the 1908 story on the Things to Do page.