A National Cemetery System

Historical marker location:

Mound City, Illinois

( Marker is at the intersection of Walnut Street (Illinois Route 37) and Old U.S. 51, on the right when traveling north on Walnut Street.)

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.