Illinois World War II Veterans Memorial
Illinois World War II Veterans Memorial is a historic site in Illinois, at a modelled elevation of 176 m. Elkhart Hill stands 221 m to the northeast, 17 miles off. The nearest named place is Purple Heart Memorial, a historic site less than a tenth of a mile away. Historic Route 66 passes 1.0 miles off. 6 named summits stand within 25 miles.
The story
The World War II Illinois Veterans Memorial is the official memorial of the U.S. state of Illinois maintained in honor of veterans of the war, as well as those bereaved during the course of the conflict. 987,000 Illinois residents served in uniform during the war, and 22,000 gave up their lives during the campaigns. Planning for the memorial began in 1999, and the memorial was dedicated in 2004. The memorial is in Oak Ridge Cemetery, located on the north side of Springfield, Illinois, the state capital. The memorial is a multi-element sculptural installation that centers on a 22-ton (20-tonne) white globe 12 feet (3.5m) in diameter, demonstrating the global nature of the conflict. Spreading outward from the globe are a series of black granite walls into which the names of various battles and campaigns of the war are incised. Stainless steel buttons inserted into the globe pinpoint the locations of the battles. As of 2023, frequent tribute observances gather together representatives from the diminishing headcount of veterans of this conflict. The executive board of the memorial also organizes efforts to collect oral memories from survivors. In some cases, relatives seeking information about their missing kin may contact the Memorial's executive board. Although the Memorial is de jure a historic site of the Illinois Historic Preservation Agency, in practice it is maintained by the staff of Oak Ridge Cemetery and the Memorial's independent governing board.
From Wikipedia, CC BY-SA 4.0.
Wikidata Q8036433, referenced by the OpenStreetMap record.
What the record says
- Built
- 2004-12-04
How to reach it
- 1.0 mi off the Historic Route 66, National
- 61.9 mi off the Great River Road, National
Overlooks nearby
- Capitol View · 2 mi
- Jake's Point Overlook · 27 mi
Named places within 25 miles
- Bob Vose Corner: 0.5 mi
- Lincoln Park: 0.6 mi
- Gehrmann Park: 0.7 mi
- Duncan Park: 0.9 mi
- Enos Park: 1.0 mi
- Purple Heart Memorial: 0.0 mi
- Illinois Vietnam Veterans Memorial: 0.0 mi
- Illinois World War I Memorial: 0.1 mi
- Illinois Korean War Memorial: 0.1 mi
- G.A.R. Mound - Army of the Republic Monument: 0.4 mi
- Bust of Abraham Lincoln: 0.4 mi
- Fido Sniffing Flower Pot: 1.3 mi
- Lincoln's Bench: 1.3 mi
- A Greater Task: 1.4 mi
- Lincoln Mural: 1.4 mi
- Illinois State Military Museum: 0.4 mi
- Springfield and Central Illinois African-American History Museum: 0.4 mi
- Union Station: 1.3 mi
- Abraham Lincoln Presidential Museum: 1.4 mi
- Shea's Gas Station Museum: 1.4 mi
- Garden of Hope: 0.8 mi
- The Neighborhood Garden: 0.8 mi
- Enos Park Sculpture Garden: 1.1 mi
- Lorraine DeSouza Perennial Garden: 1.5 mi
- Vinegar Hill Community Garden: 2.2 mi
- Milk a Cow: 1.4 mi
- High Dive Show: 1.5 mi
- Route 66 Experience: 1.6 mi
- Lincoln's Home: 1.8 mi
- Lauterbach Man Statue: 3.9 mi
- Margery Adams Wildlife Sanctuary: 2.5 mi
- Gurgens Park: 3.4 mi
- Riverside Park: 3.5 mi
- Carpenter Park: 3.8 mi
- Wanless Park: 7.1 mi
- Cotton Hill: 10.8 mi
- Walnut Hill: 12.5 mi
- Elkhart Hill: 17.2 mi
- Yellow Hammer Knob: 18.3 mi
- Polecat Hill: 20.8 mi
- Hampton Bluff: 19.2 mi
- Cavanaugh Bluff: 24.6 mi
- Iron Spring: 2.2 mi
Summits around it
The highest named summits within 25 miles of Illinois World War II Veterans Memorial. Elevation from each summit’s own record; bearing measured between the two coordinates.
| Summit | Bearing | Elevation | Distance |
|---|---|---|---|
| Elkhart Hill | NE 36° | 221 m | 17.2 mi |
| Walnut Hill | NNE 29° | 197 m | 12.5 mi |
| Polecat Hill | NNE 18° | 187 m | 20.8 mi |
| Cotton Hill | SSE 154° | 186 m | 10.8 mi |
| Yellow Hammer Knob | E 94° | 183 m | 18.3 mi |
| Kingfisher Hill | NW 316° | 183 m | 24.5 mi |
When to go
Light through the year
| Date | Sunrise | Golden hour | Sunset |
|---|---|---|---|
| March equinox | 07:03 | 18:35 | 19:11 |
| June solstice | 05:31 | 19:50 | 20:31 |
| September equinox | 06:47 | 18:22 | 18:57 |
| December solstice | 07:17 | 15:55 | 16:38 |
Local time (America/Chicago).
Climate normals
Months averaging 50–80 °F: Apr–Oct.
| Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Avg °F | 27 | 31 | 42 | 53 | 63 | 73 | 76 | 74 | 67 | 55 | 43 | 33 |
| Precip in | 2.2 | 2.2 | 3.0 | 4.1 | 5.1 | 5.0 | 4.4 | 2.9 | 3.1 | 3.1 | 3.1 | 2.3 |
1991–2020 U.S. Climate Normals, NOAA NCEI — Springfield #2, 2 mi away.
Where this comes from
Location and category confirmed against OpenStreetMap.
OpenStreetMapWikipediaWikidataOpenStreetMap element node/4409935020
Day trips start here
- Petersburg · 17 mi
Take the scenic way to Illinois World War II Veterans Memorial.
Byway plans around your taste, verified places, real weather and opening hours — then opens every leg in Google Maps with one tap.