Historical Markers Fund

Help place historical markers at demolished Black Panther Party sites in Chicago.

UPDATE: NINE MARKERS CONFIRMED

Help us place a TENTH marker in Altgeld Gardens.

Thank you for your kindness and generosity. 💙

The Historical Preservation Society of the Illinois Chapter of the Black Panther Party has successfully achieved a Thematic Listing for the Black Panther Party in Illinois on the National Register of Historic Places.

All proceeds from this fundraiser will go to our Historical Marker Fund. Your donation will help us order and install historic markers at key Black Panther Party Locations in Illinois. Just about all of these sites have been demolished. Our markers will commemorate the work of the Party for years to come.

Donate

Thank you for giving. Confirmed markers are in BOLD.

Sites
1. Headquarters–demolished, 2350 W. Madison Street, Chicago, DONE, the Dr. Huey P. Newton Foundation sponsors this marker.

2. Spurgeon Jake Winters Free Medical Center–demolished, 3850 W. 16th Street, Chicago, DONE, Willie and Donna Calvin, Dr. Cheryl Peterson, and your donations sponsor this marker.

3. Better Boys Foundation–Not demolished, new structure, 1512 S. Pulaski, Chicago, DONE, the Illinois Chapter sponsors this marker. First location of the Free Breakfast for Children program.

4. Southside Office–demolished, 4233 S. Indiana, Chicago, DONE, Congressman Bobby L. Rush, Diane, and your donations sponsor this marker.

5. St. Dominic’s Church–demolished, 357 W. Locust, Chicago, DONE, the Illinois Chapter’s Northside Cadre sponsors this marker.

6. Assassination Site–demolished, 2337 W. Monroe, Chicago, DONE, the Illinois Chapter sponsors this marker.

7. Meeting and Organizing Hub–People’s Church, now Epiphany Center for the Arts, 201 S. Ashland, DONE, the Joseph and Bessie Feinberg Foundation sponsors this marker.

Help us reach our goal of seven markers by March 10th. We look forward to seeing you at the dedication ceremonies.

Success: NINE Historical Markers Confirmed, Help Us With the TENTH.

March 31, 2024 Update - More markers added!

April 10, 2024 Update - NINE Markers Confirmed!

8. Madden Park–demolished, Site of Breakfast Program in Madden Park Homes, 500 E. 37th Street, Chicago, fundraising in progress

9. Church of the Holy Covenant–gave refuge to the Illinois Chapter and Rainbow Coalition during the Days of Rage; lawyers for the Black Panthers stored evidence here, including bloody mattresses from the assassinations of Fred Hampton and Mark Clark, 925 W. Diversey, DONE, your donations and the Joseph and Bessie Feinberg Foundation Sponsors this marker.

10. Our Lady of the Gardens Church–demolished, Site of Breakfast Program in Altgeld Gardens, 13300 S. Langley, fundraising in progress

11. People’s Law Office—lawyers for the Black Panther Party and Rainbow Coalition, 2156 N. Halsted, 1969-1975. The Trust for Public Land sponsors this marker.

12. Ward Chapel A.M.E.–Site of Breakfast Program started by Mark Clark, 511 North Richard Allen Drive, Peoria, Illinois, fundraising in progress

13. First Southside Office–demolished, 233 E. 35th Street, Chicago, fundraising in progress

Donate

Thank you for giving.

Friday, February 16, 2024, Illinois Chapter members and our supporters generously gave and helped us reach our goal of six markers! We thank you so much for giving!

On Thursday, February 15, 2024, the Illinois Chapter added an additional historical marker by sponsoring 2337 W. Monroe, the assassination site of Illinois Deputy Chairman Fred Hampton and Illinois Defense Captain Mark Clark. The FBI and State’s Attorney’s Chicago police colluded to kill Hampton in a pre-dawn raid.

On February 8, 2024, the Illinois Chapter sponsored our third historical marker! This marker will be placed at the Better Boys Foundation at 1512 S. Pulaski, the first site of the Free Breakfast for Children Program.

On February 6, the Illinois Chapter’s Northside Cadre secured the second historical marker that will be placed in the Cabrini Green area of Chicago at the former location of St. Dominic’s Church.

On January 23, 2024, the Dr. Huey P. Newton Foundation sponsored our first historical marker that will be placed at the Illinois Chapter’s headquarters location at 2350 W. Madison on the westside of Chicago.

We are grateful for these generous donations and will proudly display their sponsorship on the marker.

Please continue to give to help us reach our goal.

The Black Panther Party has been erased from Chicago’s landscape, and your tax-deductible donations will help us establish its footprint for generations to come.

Thank you for giving.