Historical Markers in Cook County, Illinois
(Former) Cosmopolitan State Bank
(Former) Marshfield Trust and Savings Bank
116 W. Euclid
1877 Keystone from City Hall Building
227 East Walton Place Apartment Building
333 North Michigan Building
609 N. Dunton
910 South Michigan
A Road Well Traveled
Aaron Montgomery Ward Gardens
Abandoned Shoreline of Lake Michigan
Abraham Lincoln Monument
Alan Mathison Turing
Alexander Robinson
Alfred Caldwell Lily Pool
Alfred Caldwell Lily Pool
Allan Pinkerton
Allerton Hotel
Alvin Ailey
American Book Company Building
American Indian - Potawatomi Tribe Eagle Dancer
American Veterans for Equal Rights Military Memorial
Archange Ouilmette
Arthur J. Dunham Centennial Home
Auditorium Building
Audre Lorde
Augustus Garrett
Automobile Love Affair
Barbara Jordan
Bataan- Corregidor Memorial Bridge
Battery A Chicago Light Artillery
Battle of Fort Dearborn
Bayard Rustin
Benny Goodman
Bertha Honore Palmer and Potter Palmer
Berwyn, Illinois
Bessie Coleman
Billy Strayhorn
Birthplace of Ernest Hemingway
Birthplace of Oak Park
Blackstone Hotel
Brewster Apartments
Brooks Building
Bryan Lathrop House
Burial Site of Josette Beaubien
Camp Douglas
Camp Thornton #2605 and the Civil Conservation Corps
Carbide and Carbon Building
Catherine and Jean-Baptiste Point du Sable
Catholic Cemetery
Central Station Fragments
Charles E. Merriam Center for Public Administration
Charles N. Loucks House
Charles R. Walgreen Sr.
Chess Records Office and Studio
Chess Records Recording Studio
Chicago & North Western Railway Powerhouse
Chicago Bee Building
Chicago Board of Trade Battery
Chicago Defender Building
Chicago Heights
Chicago Remembers
Chicago River
Chicago Water Tower
Chicago's First Movable Bridge
Churchill Corner
City Cemetery
Claude Seymour Reebie
Co. B. 1st Reg. Ill. L't Artillery.
Cole Porter
Columbia Yacht Club
Confederate Mound Monument
Continental and Commercial Bank Building
Couch Tomb
Couch Tomb
Courthouse Plaza
Crane Company Building
Cruising the Strip
David Kato Kisule
Dearborn Street
Dedicated to Adam Brown
DeWitt Clinton Cregier
Dixie Highway
Dixie Highway connected Chicago to Miami in the early days of automobile travel
Douglas Plaza
Dr. Sally K. Ride
Dr. Tom Waddell
Dra. Antonia Pantoja
Earl Seymour Wharton Reebie
Early Businesses in Old Town (#6)
Early Prominent Residents of Old Town (#2)
Eating on the Run
Ebenezer Missionary Baptist Church
Edison Park World War I Memorial
Elks Memorial Headquarters Building
Ellis Chesbrough
Emil Bach House
Enrico and Laura Fermi
Ernest Hemingway Boyhood Home
Ernie Banks, "Mr. Cub"
Essanay Studios
Eternal Flame Memorial
Eugene Williams Memorial
Fairbanks Morse & Company Building
Finley Peter Dunne
Firefighters Memorial
First Jewish House of Worship
First McDonald's Franchise
First Post Office
Florsheim Shoe Company Building
Former Chicago Historical Society Building
Former Site of Eden Inn
Former Site of Soo Line Hotel
Former Site of the Zum Deutschen Eck Restaurant
Fort Dearborn
Fr. Mychal Judge
Frances E. Willard
Frank Kameny
Frank Lloyd Wright Home and Studio
Freddie Mercury
Frida Kahlo
Gauler Twin Houses
George B. Armstrong
George Halas
George Pullman
George S. Bangs
Getty Tomb
Grace W. Trout
Grant Park
Graves Family Monument
Great World War
Green Bay Road
Greenwood Row Houses
Grosse Point Light Station
Gwendolyn Brooks: The Oracle of Bronzeville
Hannah Greenebaum Solomon
Harold Washington
Harold Washington
Harrer Park
Harris and Selwyn Theaters
Harvey Milk
Haymarket Martyrs Monument
Henry B. Clarke House
Henry Gerber House
Hidden Truths
Horse-Shoe Inn
Hotel Somerset
Hotel St. Benedict Flats
Ida B. Wells-Barnett
Illinois & Michigan Canal
Indian Boundary Park
Indian Boundary Village
Indian Trading Post
Irna Phillips
Jack Brickhouse
James Baldwin
James Charnley House
Jane Addams
Jane Addams' Hull House
Jane Addams' Hull-House and Dining Hall
Jean Baptiste Beaubien
Jean-Baptiste Pointe DuSable
John A. Logan
John A. "Jack" Johnson
John B. Murphy Memorial
John Dewey
John J. Glessner House
John Peter Altgeld
John Wellborn Root
Joseph and Betty Kettlestrings
Joseph Kettlestrings
Joseph R. Scott
Josephine Baker
Julius Rosenwald
Juvenile Court of Cook County Building
Keith Haring
Kennicott House
Kennison Boulder Monument
Kenwood
Kenwood United Church of Christ
Kwanusila
Lake View High School
Lake-Franklin Group
Landmark Landings
László Moholy-Nagy
Lincoln Park
Lincoln Park Transitions
Lincoln's Nomination Site
Lion House, Lincoln Park Zoo
Logan Square Palmer Square
Lorraine Hansberry
Louis Henri Sullivan
Louis Henry Sullivan
Louis Jolliet & Père Jacques Marquette
Louis "Satchmo" Armstrong
Louise DeKoven Bowen
Ludington Building
Ludwig Mies van der Rohe
Mahalia Jackson
Mahlon D. Ogden Residence
Margaret Anderson
Marsha P. Johnson
Marshall Field and Company Building
Mary Bartelme, Illinois First Female Judge
Masaryk Memorial Monument
Matteson, Illinois
Maxwell Street
McCormick Double House
McKinley Morganfield "Muddy Waters"
Melamerson Athletic Field
Melissia Ann Elam Home
Mid-North District
Milton L. Olive III Park
Monument of the Millennium
Moore-Dugal Residence
Mother Frances Xavier Cabrini
Nat "King" Cole
Nicholaus Copernicus
North Chicago Hospital Building
Oak Park Station
Obama Kissing Rock
Office and Studio of Perkins, Fellows & Hamilton, architects
Old Fort Dearborn
Old Northlake Library site
Old Town and The Great Fire (#3)
Old Town Architecture Reflects Neighborhood History (#10)
Old Town Triangle
Old Town's Early Settlers (#11)
Old Towns Entrepreneur Spirit (#1)
Old Treaty Elm
Old Water Tower
Oscar DePriest
Oscar Wilde
Overton Hygienic Building
Oz Park
Palmer House Hotel
Park Forest, Illinois
Patterson-McCormick Mansion
Paul Muni
Pauli Murray
Peace Triumphant
Pearl M. Hart
Percy L. Julian
Philip Rogers Home Site
Pilgrim Baptist Church
Pizzeria Uno
Portage Creek Passage
Portage Passage
Potter's Field
Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky
Q.S.M.V. Abegweit
Quinn Chapel
Regeneration
Reinaldo Arenas
Rene Robert Cavalier Sieur de La Salle
Residence of Charles Gates Dawes
Reverend Georg L. Mulfinger
Reverend J. Ward Morrison Boulevard
Richard Wright
Richard Wright House
River Forest, Illinois
Robert McCormick
Robert S. Abbott
Rookery Building
Rosehill Cemetery Entrance
Rowe Building
Ruth Ellis
Ruth Page
Saint Frances Xavier Cabrini
Sauganash Hotel - Chicago - 1831
Sauganash Veterans Memorial
Sauk Village
Scoville Park is the Heart of Oak Park
Scoville Park's Designer: Jens Jensen
Second City
Second Presbyterian Church
Senator William J. Connors
Sgt. Leonard Matlovich
Shelter Building
Site of Absolem Wells Cabin
Site of Fort Dearborn
Site of the First Self-sustaining Controlled Nuclear Chain Reaction
Site of the Haymarket Tragedy
Site of the Sauganash Hotel/Wigwam
Soldiers & Sailors Monument
South Michigan Avenue Motor Row
South Water Street
St. Boniface Union Soldiers Monument
St. Patrick's Church
State Street
State Street
Stephen A. Douglas Memorial
Stephen A. Douglas: Douglas and Lincoln
Stephen A. Douglas: The Chicago Years
Stephen A. Douglas: The Douglas Tomb
Stephen Arnold Douglas
Stonewall
Sunset Cafe
Supreme Life Building
Sylvester
Sylvia Rivera
Terminal Building
The 1992 River West Gas Fires
The American Legion Memorial
The Annoyance Theatre
The Arcade
The Baha'i House Of Worship And Welcome Center
The Benjamin Franklin School (#5)
The Blues Trail: Mississippi to Chicago
The Boulevard System
The Boulevard System
The Boulevard System
The Chicago Board of Trade's Statues
The Chicago Fire Department - Engine Company No. 27 (#7)
The Chicago Portage
The Chicago Public Library Cultural Center
The Christmas Tree Ship
The Churches of Old Town (#8)
The DePaul Center
The Discoverers
The Donohue Building
The Eastland Disaster
The Forum (1897)
The Great Migration Centennial, 1916-2016
The Green Bay Trail
The Grove
The Harlem Renaissance
The Historic Maywood Home for Soldiers' Widows
The History of Austin Gardens
The Honorable Harold Washington
The Honorable Joanne H. Alter
The Ida B. Wells Homes
The Legacy of Matthew Shepard
The Marx Brothers
The Morton Building / Hotel Blake
The Nine Dragon Wall in Chicagos Chinatown
The Norway Building
The Pink Triangle
The Pioneers
The Platt Luggage Building
The Sisters of Mercy
The Spirit of the Fighting Yank
The Standard Time System in the United States
The Water Tower & Great Chicago Fire
Third Church Building
This was "Countryside"
Thomas A. Dorsey
Thomas Edwin Greenfield Ransom
Trail Blazer
Tree Studios
Tribune Tower
Trinity Slovak Lutheran Church
Trustees System Service Building
Two Spirit
Union Civil War Soldiers
Unity Hall
Victory, World War I Black Soldiers Memorial
Viet Nam Memorial
Visionary
Vito Russo
Wacker Drive
Walgreens
Walt Whitman
Washington Block
Washington Park Racetrack
Washington Square Park
Waveland Clock Tower
Welcome to Bronzeville
West Side Grounds
Western Wheel Works Factory and Dr. Scholl Footwear Factory (#4)
WheelerKohn House
White Castle #16
Wise Road
Wooden Alley
World War I Memorial
World War I Monument: Peace Triumphant
World War II Memorial
Wrigley Field
WWI Memorial
"Barmaids Ordinance"
"Original Professors Row"
Hubbards Folly
Rites of Spring
About Cook County
Cook County Timeline
Cook County, located in the northeastern part of Illinois, has a rich and vibrant history that dates back centuries. The area was first inhabited by Native American tribes, including the Potawatomi, Miami, and Sauk, who utilized the abundant natural resources of the region for their livelihoods.
European settlement of Cook County began in the late 18th century with the arrival of French explorers and traders. However, it was not until the early 19th century that the permanent settlement of the region started to take shape. In 1831, the area was officially organized as Cook County, named after Daniel Cook, an early attorney and politician.
The construction of the Illinois and Michigan Canal in the 1830s played a significant role in the development of Cook County. This waterway connected the Illinois River to Lake Michigan, making Chicago a crucial transportation hub and contributing to its rapid growth. The county's population surged, attracting immigrants from around the world who sought work in industries like meatpacking, steel manufacturing, and brewing.
Throughout its history, Cook County has been a focal point of notable events and achievements. It was in Cook County that the iconic Chicago Fire of 1871 broke out, resulting in significant destruction but also paving the way for the city's subsequent architectural and urban redevelopment. The county was also key to the rise of the labor and civil rights movements, with significant protests and strikes occurring throughout the 20th century.
Today, Cook County is the most populous county in Illinois and home to the city of Chicago, a global center of commerce, culture, and innovation. It continues to evolve and adapt, with diverse communities, renowned cultural institutions, and a dynamic economy that contributes to its reputation as a vibrant and influential county.
European settlement of Cook County began in the late 18th century with the arrival of French explorers and traders. However, it was not until the early 19th century that the permanent settlement of the region started to take shape. In 1831, the area was officially organized as Cook County, named after Daniel Cook, an early attorney and politician.
The construction of the Illinois and Michigan Canal in the 1830s played a significant role in the development of Cook County. This waterway connected the Illinois River to Lake Michigan, making Chicago a crucial transportation hub and contributing to its rapid growth. The county's population surged, attracting immigrants from around the world who sought work in industries like meatpacking, steel manufacturing, and brewing.
Throughout its history, Cook County has been a focal point of notable events and achievements. It was in Cook County that the iconic Chicago Fire of 1871 broke out, resulting in significant destruction but also paving the way for the city's subsequent architectural and urban redevelopment. The county was also key to the rise of the labor and civil rights movements, with significant protests and strikes occurring throughout the 20th century.
Today, Cook County is the most populous county in Illinois and home to the city of Chicago, a global center of commerce, culture, and innovation. It continues to evolve and adapt, with diverse communities, renowned cultural institutions, and a dynamic economy that contributes to its reputation as a vibrant and influential county.
Cook County Timeline
This timeline provides a glimpse into the major events and milestones that have shaped the history of Cook County, Illinois.
- 1830: Cook County is established as a separate county in the state of Illinois.
- 1835: The city of Chicago is incorporated within Cook County.
- 1840: The population of Cook County reaches over 10,000.
- 1850: The Illinois Central Railroad is completed, connecting Chicago to the rest of the country.
- 1871: The Great Chicago Fire destroys a large portion of the city, including parts of Cook County.
- 1889: The Chicago Board of Trade Building, the world's first modern skyscraper, is completed in Chicago.
- 1920: The population of Cook County surpasses 3 million.
- 1933: The beginning of the prohibition era leads to increased organized crime activities in Cook County, notably led by Al Capone.
- 1955: The construction of the Eisenhower Expressway begins, marking the start of an extensive highway system in Cook County.
- 1969: The Sears Tower (now Willis Tower) is completed in Chicago, becoming the tallest building in the world at the time.
- 1971: The Richard J. Daley Center, a prominent government building, is completed in Chicago.
- 1995: The Chicago Bulls, with Michael Jordan, win their fourth NBA championship, bringing recognition and pride to Cook County.
- 2016: Chicago experiences a surge in violence and homicides, leading to increased efforts to address and reduce crime in Cook County.