Bishop Hill

Historical marker location:

Bishop Hill, Illinois

( Marker is on Walter Payton Memorial Highway (U.S. 34) just west of East 1670th Street (County Road 39), on the right when traveling west.)

Marker installed: 1987

Illinois was the first state in the country to ratify the 13th Amendment to the U.S. Constitution, which abolished slavery. The amendment was ratified by Illinois on February 1, 1865, before it was ratified by any other state.