Agencies
Services
Governor Coles Memorial
NOTE ANDROID USERS ONLY: The donation payment processing function in the Illinois History mobile application for Android devices is currently down. Donations are still being processed through the web site at https://dnrhistoric.illinois.gov/experience/sites.html.We apologize for the inconvenience.
Edward Coles was the second governor of Illinois. A former slave owner from Virginia, Coles became an abolitionist and won the 1822 gubernatorial election as the candidate of the anti-slavery forces. He helped defeat a call for a constitutional convention to consider the legalization of slavery in Illinois. The memorial, which stands at Valley View Cemetery, was erected in 1928 and 1929 and contains a square bas-relief bronze portrait of Coles, sculpted by Leon Hermant. Coles is buried in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.
