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Wild Bill Hickok Memorial

Wild Bill Hickok Memorial is a state historic site operated by the Illinois Historic Preservation Agency. It is located in a small park at the intersection of Main and Ottawa Streets in Troy Grove, Illinois. The memorial marks the site of the birthplace of “Wild Bill” Hickok and features a plaque on a granite monument. The plaque honors Hickok’s service as a scout and spy in the western states during the American Civil War, as well as his work as a frontier express messenger. The monument was dedicated on August 29, 1930.

Wild Bill Hickok Memorial statue of a seated man with long hair, a mustache, and a bow tie
The Wild Bill Hickok Memorial statue shows a seated figure in dark bronze, posed with crossed legs in front of a brick building.
September 2006 © · CC BY-SA 4.0
Bronze bust of Wild Bill Hickok on a textured pedestal with a pistol and hat relief, set behind a fence among pine trees.
Wild Bill Hickok Memorial bust at his gravesite, with flowers and small offerings at the base.
August 2018 © · CC BY-SA 4.0
Wild Bill Hickok Memorial bronze bust on a stone base beside a granite boulder plaque in a grassy park
The Wild Bill Hickok Memorial features a bronze bust set beside a plaque-mounted boulder in a park setting.
April 2010 © · CC0
Bronze plaque on the Wild Bill Hickok Memorial with commemorative raised text on granite.
The Wild Bill Hickok Memorial plaque in Troy Grove, Illinois.
April 2010 © · CC0

Identification

TitleWild Bill Hickok Memorial
TypeState historic site

Location and ownership

LocationSmall park at the intersection of Main and Ottawa Streets, Troy Grove, Illinois, United States
OperatorIllinois Historic Preservation Agency

Historical context

Subject commemoratedBirthplace of Wild Bill Hickok

Creator

HonoreeWild Bill Hickok
Depicted personJames Butler "Wild Bill" Hickok

Materials

MaterialsGranite and bronze

Physical characteristics

ComponentsA granite monument, a bronze bust, and a commemorative plaque
FeaturePlaque on the granite monument

Iconography and meaning

Commemorated forServices as a scout and spy in the western states during the American Civil War, and as a frontier express messenger
Plaque subjectScouting and spy services of James Butler "Wild Bill" Hickok during the American Civil War, his role as a Pony Express courier, and his fight for right and justice

History and restoration

Dedication dateAugust 29, 1930