Current News

Looking for Lincoln Recieves Award from the AASLH
Monday, September 15, 2025
The Looking for Lincoln Heritage Coalition is proud to be the recipient of the Award of Excellence from the American Association for State and Local History (AASLH) for our traveling exhibit, ‘Journey to Freedom: Illinois’ Underground Railroad.’

Union Pacific Brings Lincoln Locomotive to Springfield, IL July 1
Tuesday, June 24, 2025
Union Pacific will bring its Abraham Lincoln Locomotive to Springfield Illinois on July 1, to note the railroad’s 163rd birthday.

Movie Premiere June 22: ‘The Underground Railroad in Metamora’
Monday, May 26, 2025
The Metamora Association for Historic Preservation is proud to host a movie premier about the Underground Railroad in Metamora on June 22, 2025 at 3:00 pm.
Upcoming Events

Journey to Freedom: Illinois’ Underground Railroad Exhibit - Lincoln Log Cabin Site
Saturday, August 2, 2025 - Tuesday, November 11, 2025
Looking for Lincoln presents the travelling exhibit, Journey to Freedom Illinois’ Underground Railroad. The courageous stories of freedom seekers, and the multi-racial conductors who assisted them, are highlighted in this new exhibit about the Underground Railroad in Illinois. Learn about the network of people, who often at great risk to themselves, collaborated to assist those searching for freedom and dignity.

Journey to Freedom: Illinois’ Underground Railroad Exhibit- Lincoln Heritage Museum
Tuesday, September 2, 2025 - Thursday, October 30, 2025
Looking for Lincoln presents the travelling exhibit, Journey to Freedom Illinois’ Underground Railroad. The courageous stories of freedom seekers, and the multi-racial conductors who assisted them, are highlighted in this new exhibit about the Underground Railroad in Illinois. Learn about the network of people, who often at great risk to themselves, collaborated to assist those searching for freedom and dignity.

Regional Highlight
Abraham Lincoln started his political career in 1834 as an Illinois state legislator in Vandalia, Illinois. The community of Vandalia was the Illinois State Capitol from 1820-1839. Lincoln would spend eight years in the state legislature and eventually vote to move the state capitol to Springfield, Illinois.