The Story
Mary Harris 'Mother' Jones, the famous labor organizer and 'most dangerous woman in America,' requested burial in the Union Miners Cemetery in Mt Olive. When she died in 1930 at approximately 100 years old, her wish was honored.
A 22-foot granite monument was erected in 1936, the same decade Route 66 brought travelers past this small mining community. Her grave became a pilgrimage site for labor activists traveling the Mother Road.
Surprise Facts
→ Mother Jones was called 'the most dangerous woman in America'
→ She chose burial among miners over more prestigious locations
→ The monument was partly funded by coal miner union dues
Visit Information
✓ Open to Visit
Address: Union Miners Cemetery, Mt Olive, IL 62069
Hours: Cemetery hours
Tip: Near Soulsby's Shell - combine both visits