While Alexander Hamilton's Image On $10 Bill Will Be Diminished, He Can Still Be Seen Prominently In Chicago
(CBS) -- Alexander Hamilton's image on the $10 bill will be diminished in a few years, but he'll still be seen prominently in Chicago.
A 13-foot statue of Alexander Hamilton, the nation's first Secretary of the Treasury, stands in Lincoln Park on Diversey near Cannon.
Chicagoan Krista August is author of "Giants in the Park" a history guide to the monuments in Lincoln Park and is an expert on Alexander Hamilton.
"His statue is the most expensive statue that was donated to Lincoln Park," August said. "In 1928, Kate Sturges Buckingham, who is the same lady who gave us Buckingham Fountain, she set aside a million dollars in her will for an Alexander Hamilton statue."
The statue was not installed until 1952 and August says while it is nice that a woman will be honored on the $10 bill, Hamilton should not be forgotten.
"(George) Washington turned to him for a lot of advice. He (Hamilton) was responsible for our country getting off on sound financial footing in the beginning and being respected internationally....he had more influence on Washington than Jefferson did."
August says Hamilton was involved in the abolition movement early on and there is a lot to be admired about him.
Chicago also a Hamilton Elementary School on the 1600 block of West Cornelia.