Frequently Asked Questions

How do I visit the site?

The Springfield 1908 Race Riot National Monument is located in Springfield, Illinois. The monument is within an active railroad construction zone and not currently accessible to the public. Over the coming years, the National Park Service will work with the local community and partners to plan for future development, commemoration, historic preservation, and visitor experiences associated with the new park. Interim measures will evaluate safety and access and explore opportunities to share the history of the site, including developing programs and interpretive materials.

How can I learn more about Springfield 1908 Race Riot National Monument and what happened during the riot?

More information and resources about the site and its history will continue to be added to this website over the coming years. The National Park Service also published a Special Resource Study which includes valuable background on the events of 1908 and the historic objects found at the site that will now be protected as part of a national monument.

How was this site discovered?

The site’s history was well known to descendants, but important archeological objects at the site were recently discovered during surveys related to the Springfield Rail Improvements Project, an effort to alleviate rail congestion and improve transportation safety, that is still ongoing. Protecting the site and the historic objects located there from future development is critical as urban renewal projects erased many of the other sites associated with this tragic historic event. New additions to the National Park System are often established before full visitor services are available.

How did the National Park Service acquire the land?

The Springfield 1908 Race Riot National Monument was made possible through land donations from the City of Springfield and St. John's Hospital of the Hospital Sisters of the Third Order of St. Francis with support provided by the National Park Foundation. Federal funds were not spent on the land acquisition.

How is a national monument established by the president?

Additions to the National Park System can happen through Congressional legislation or via presidential proclamation under the Antiquities Act. The Antiquities Act authorizes the US president to protect historic landmarks, historic and prehistoric structures, and other objects of historic and scientific interest that are situated on land owned or controlled by the federal government to be national monuments and to reserve such land as necessary to provide for the proper care and management of the objects.

Since 1906, US presidents from both parties have used their authority under the Antiquities Act to designate national monuments more than 160 times. Many iconic parks were first protected under the Antiquities Act, including Grand Canyon National Park (1908), Acadia National Park (1916), and Chaco Culture National Historical Park (1907). You can learn more about the Antiquities Act and how parks are created and associated naming conventions on our website.