HISTORY · HISTORICAL MARKER
The CCC
History
4
During the Great Depression, President Franklin D. Roosevelt's Civilian Conservation Corps became one of the most successful programs aiding Americans by providing training and employment to more than 3 million young men during its nine years from 1933 to 1942. Enrollees were sent to camps in every state and territory of the U.S. to work on conservation projects, fight fires, assist during emergencies, and build roads, bridges, and buildings. Illinois was one of the first states to use the program, and over the years about 165,000 individuals were employed in at least 50 Civilian Conservation Corps camps in the state, many working on projects in state parks. There they built shelters and buildings, constructed roads and 1,192 miles of trails, planted 60 million trees, built nearly 400 bridges, and carried out many other park improvement and maintenance activities. Each enrollee was paid $30 a month, receiving $5 while $25 was sent home to his family, and also received three full meals a day, lodging, clothes, footwear, inoculations, other medical and dental care, and optional vocational, academic, or recreational instruction.
FIND IT
Brussels, Illinois
CITY · 11 STOPSExplore Brussels, Illinois
Hear every story as you drive
4.8 Stars · 800+ Ratings
© 2026 MainEngine