Cross of Gold First Delivered

William Jennings Bryan test-drove the greatest speech in American history, “The Cross of Gold” in Perry, Illinois, on the lawn of Perry Presbyterian Church. Bryan would go on to deliver this speech at the 1896 Democratic National Convention in Chicago. The speech would propel the “Boy orator of the Plains” to be the 1896 Democratic nominee for President of the United States.

Featured Image Credit: Photo: Cross of Gold Speech Marker. www.hmdb.org/PhotoFullSize.asp?PhotoID=489812.