"The National Park Foundation is honored to support the establishment of the Springfield 1908 Race Riot National Monument made through the Antiquities Act. When completed, the new National Park Service site will preserve and share the story of a painful and pivotal moment in our nation’s history, when over the course of two days beginning on August 14, 1908, a White mob targeted Black homes, businesses, and families, resulting in the destruction of neighborhoods and loss of life. The racial violence led to the founding of the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People (NAACP) to address issues of racial injustice and inequality. More than a century later, the newly protected land will preserve archeological remains of homes burned during the 1908 Springfield Race Riot.
The National Park Foundation played a crucial role to acquire the properties owned by the City of Springfield and St. John’s Hospital and transfer ownership to the National Park Service. Today, thanks to the philanthropic support of NPF’s land conservation and history and culture programs, the Springfield 1908 Race Riot National Monument will be preserved in perpetuity. Protecting this site and its story is a commitment to better understanding our nation’s history and recognizing the sacrifices made and endured by the Black community."
-- Will Shafroth, president and CEO, National Park Foundation
The Springfield 1908 Race Riot National Monument commemorates the tragic events of August 14-16, 1908, in Springfield, Illinois when local African American residents were targeted and victimized by mass racial violence from white residents.