Burl Ives Statue / Jasper County Notables

Historical marker location:

108 N Van Buren St, Newton, Illinois

( Marker is at the intersection of East Jourdan Street (Illinois Route 33) and North Van Buren Street (Illinois Route 130), on the right when traveling west on East Jourdan Street.)

Marker installed: 2014

The state of Illinois played a crucial role in the Underground Railroad, a network of secret routes and safe houses used by slaves to escape to freedom in the 19th century. Many abolitionists in Illinois provided safe houses for escaping slaves, and Chicago was a key hub on the Underground Railroad.