Hero Street USA

Hero Street came into existence in the 1930s as an unpaved road that was part of a 3-block wide section of Silvis, Illinois. It was the only land Mexican-American immigrants were allowed to own.

Years ago, the Rock Island Rail Road Lines faced an acute shortage of labor, which created a wave of immigration from Mexico, and the resulting tight-knit community kept a sense of cohesion and purpose internally ─ but were isolated from other Americans in a ghetto called “Little Mexico.” The community fought for a way to find a balance between assimilation and segregation, to live ‘off the Little Mexico campus’, and pursue the American dream. This land purchase signified a major win for the community. Despite the many financial and social hardships, the community thrived and had faith in the American dream.

Faith in the American dream was expressed by heavy participation in military service. Fighting for freedom became a way of life for this minority enclave. In fact, the Department of Defense determined that “there is no other street of comparable size that has had as many men and women render service to the Armed Forces of the United States,” hence the many memorials to veterans throughout the street. Tributes to the veterans range from humble, hand painted and weathered signs and spray painted stars on the street in front of homes to less transient, weather resistant bronze plaque kiosks.

Hero Street USA is the unification of space and time for the original settlers and their descendants. It remains a Hispanic neighborhood, but much has changed since its early days of dirt streets and boxcar homes. Today, Hero Street USA now hosts beautiful art installations that feature personal histories and photographs of family members from the previous generations that called this street home.