Legacy Walk Inducted Cannon and Pulaski
The Legacy Project unveiled new bronze memorial plaques honoring the two figures in the Northalsted neighborhood.
Updated on Oct. 13, 2026 in LGBTQand
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Lori F. Cannon and Casimir Pulaski were recently inducted into the Legacy Walk in Chicago. The organization unveiled bronze memorial plaques for both individuals along Halsted Street to celebrate their contributions to history.
Why it matters
The Legacy Project installs these markers to document the history of LGBTQ+ people and to combat ongoing efforts to erase these narratives. These additions serve to permanently commemorate specific lives and figures within the public record.
The 15th annual Legacy Walk induction placed plaques along the west side of Halsted Street between Addison and Roscoe Streets. Cannon's memorial sits next to Daniel Sotomayor's, while Pulaski's is positioned beside the marker for José Sarria.
The players
Lori F. Cannon
She is a co-founder of Open Hand/Chicago and a key figure in the Legacy Project.
Casimir Pulaski
He was a Brigadier General who served during the United States Revolutionary War.
The Legacy Project
This organization works to document and celebrate the history and contributions of LGBTQ+ people.
The details
The induction process included a formal program at the Center on Halsted, where attendees heard biographies and remarks from plaque sponsors. The event concluded with an afterparty hosted at Sidetrack to celebrate the new additions to the Northalsted streetscape.
Timeline
1987: Dean Ogren first met Lori F. Cannon.
October 10, 2026: The induction ceremony for Cannon and Pulaski took place.
Culture Shift
The installation of these plaques reflects a broader societal movement to formalize LGBTQ+ historical recognition in public spaces. This effort challenges traditional memorial patterns by creating a permanent, community-curated record of figures who shaped the past.
Residents and visitors can now view the new plaques while walking along the west side of Halsted Street. The installation provides a new opportunity for the public to engage with local history while navigating the Northalsted corridor.
The takeaway
The Legacy Walk offers a way for local communities to reclaim and highlight histories that are often excluded from mainstream records. You can support similar initiatives by visiting the markers to learn about the specific contributions of the people honored in your neighborhood.
Further reading
Learn more about local historical preservation efforts in the Chicago LGBTQand section.
Source note: This article includes information reported by Windy City Times.
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