Oldest Chicago monument! #TBT

Illinois-Indiana Boundary Marker

 As I continue to peruse the posts of Chicago History Today to find old photographs of sites on the south side, I wanted to share this with you.

Did you know that on the south side near the lakefront is a marker noting the divide between Chicago and Indiana. Here's some history from J.R. Schmidt:

In 1833, as Chicago and the Midwest were starting to grow, Congress ordered a new survey of the boundary between Illinois and Indiana. When the survey was completed, a 15-foot high limestone obelisk was put in place on the shore of Lake Michigan, straddling the state line.

Civilization gradually engulfed the boundary marker. The shoreline was extended north by landfill. Multiple railroad lines came through. Commonwealth Edison built a huge generating plant. The South Park Commissioners laid out Calumet Park.

By the 1980s the marker was isolated and neglected among the rail yards. Allen J. Benson, a ComEd executive, convinced the company to sponsor its restoration, in conjunction with the East Side Historical Society and other interested groups. In 1988 the marker was moved 190 feet north to its present location, just outside the plant gate. A new base was added at that time.

As Schmidt states this monument is very difficult to find, however, you will have to read the rest of his post to see how to find this monument if you're interested in looking for it. Perhaps you can lobby the city to put up some signs to find this monument.

Perhaps I might document the time where I tried to find this obelisk!