Haymarket Martyrs' Monument
Why it's listed
Set in Forest Home Cemetery in Forest Park, Illinois, this sixteen-foot granite shaft marks the graves of anarchists executed after the 1886 Haymarket bombing in Chicago. German-American sculptor Albert Weinert designed it, and its cornerstone was laid on November 6, 1892. Two bronze figures stand on a stepped base: a woman holding a laurel wreath over a reclining worker. Inscriptions include words attributed to August Spies and an excerpt from Governor Altgeld's 1893 pardon of three other defendants. The cemetery was the only one in the Chicago area willing to accept the men's remains. The monument was recognized as a National Historic Landmark because it commemorates the movement for the eight-hour workday and the origins of May Day as an international workers' holiday. The original Haymarket Square site lost its physical integrity after expressway construction, so this monument became the principal place of remembrance. Labor activists and sympathizers from many places have chosen burial nearby, and people still gather there each May Day and November 11.
Significance in brief: The monument commemorates workers' struggle for the eight-hour day and the 1886 Haymarket rally that led to the hanging of four labor leaders. The nomination calls it the most powerful symbol of the Haymarket legacy, because the original Haymarket Square site lost its integrity after expressway construction. Labor activists have chosen to be buried beside the martyrs, and annual gatherings continue at the site.
Machine-generated summary. This summary was generated by a language model from the official nomination document and has not been reviewed line by line by an editor. It may contain errors. Check the source document before relying on any detail. Source: nomination document (PDF) · National Archives catalog entry. NRHP reference 97000343, listed February 18, 1997. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29, confidence high).
Key facts
| Address | 863 S. Des Plaines Ave., Forest Park |
|---|---|
| County | Cook County |
| Listed | February 18, 1997 |
| Reference number | 97000343 |
| Resource type | Object |
| Period of significance | December 18, 1887; June 25, 1893 |
| Architect / builder | Weinert, Albert, sculptor |
| Criteria |
|
| Areas of significance | Social History |
| Level of significance | National |
| National Historic Landmark | Yes, designated February 18, 1997 |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | Still used as a burial site (funerary use); gatherings continue each May Day and November 11. |
| Acreage | 0.9 |
| Within district | Riverside Landscape Architecture District |
| Coordinates | 41.84280, -87.81934 (NPS GIS) |
What listing means for this property
For a publicly owned building or structure, listing mainly matters when federal funds, permits or licences are involved: projects then go through Section 106 review so effects on the property are considered. Listing also strengthens applications for preservation grants and, for leased income-producing uses, can enable the federal rehabilitation tax credit.
General information, not legal or tax advice. Rules change; confirm with your State Historic Preservation Office or a qualified adviser.
Sources and further reading
- National Park Service, National Register of Historic Places database (snapshot May 2026), reference 97000343.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikipedia article (used for cross-checking only; text not reproduced here)
- Wikidata Q4132855
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.