Current News

FILM PREMIERE: "From Courtroom to Capital: Lincoln’s Path to the Presidency
Thursday, October 9, 2025
The public is invited to the premier of the new short film highlighting the people, places, and events on the 8th Judicial Circuit that prepared Abraham Lincoln for the national stage.

Looking for Lincoln Receives 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.
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.

Film Premiere: From Courtroom to Capital
Thursday, November 6, 2025 7:00 PM - 8:00 PM
The public is invited to the premier of the new short film highlighting the people, places, and events on the 8th Judicial Circuit that prepared Abraham Lincoln for the national stage.
The film "From Courtroom to Capital: Lincoln’s Path to the Presidency" will be shown on Thursday, November 6, 2025 starting at 7 pm. At 7:30, the film will be follwed by a panel discussion with historians Sam Wheeler, John Lupton, Guy Fraker, and Kevin Christensen. The evening will end with a social hour with light refreshments.
The event will be hosted at The Hoogland Center for the Arts, 420 South Sixth Street in downtown Springfield, Illinois
There is no charge for the event, but attendees will need to reserve their attendance at the link below.

Regional Highlight
In 1842, Dr. Richard Eells was arrested and charged with harboring and secreting a fugitive slave, and fined $400 by Judge Stephen Douglas. He then lost in the Illinois Supreme Court. The case was later heard by the US Supreme Court, after Eell's death, which also upheld the ruling. Eells estate was represented by Salmon P. Chase and William Seward future secretaries of treasury and state in the Lincoln administration.