The Jones House was built from 1857-1858 by John Dehner, a prominent Pontiac citizen who had a stake in the Chicago and Paducah Railroad and represents the type of building (perhaps specifically) that Lincoln would have encountered in the area. Dehner purchased the property from Simon Dewitt in 1857 and when the house was finished in 1858 its value was assessed at $366. Constructed in 1857-58, just one other brick home was completed in Pontiac prior to the completion of the Jones House. Later it served as the residence of another prominent early Pontiac citizen, Henry C. Jones, for who it is named,—a newspaper publisher and the founder and president of the Pontiac Light, Heat and Power Company.

After Jones’ death the home passed through members of the Jones family and it was damaged by fire in 1975. In 1976 the Livingston County Historical Society purchased the property and restored it. The Jones House was added to the National Register of Historic Places for its architectural and historic significance associated with the early prominent citizens of Pontiac on May 5, 1978.

The historical society still holds the property and it is open by appointment.

Address: 314 East Madison St., Pontiac, IL

Contact: (815) 842-3457

This three-story wood-framed structure was built for Z.F. Yost, a Pontiac attorney. Begun in 1898, the Queen Ann-style house rests on the bank of the Vermilion River, providing a clear view of the river below and behind the house. Visitors enjoy the same scenery today, filtered through the many trees and shrubs which offer a haven for visiting songbirds and waterfowl. It is significant that the Twenty-First Century has made little impact on the structure, inside or out. Here, nearly all the Yost family possessions remain, some which date back to the 1850's reminding visitors of the rich and varied cultural interests of its inhabitants and visitors, including local attorneys such as Abraham Lincoln. The house is owned by the City of Pontiac, funded by the J. Paul Yost Trust and managed by the Livingston County Historical Society. Open by appointment.

Address: 298 West Water St., Pontiac, IL 61764

Contact: (815) 844-5847

Lincoln, on January 27, 1860, accepted an invitation to speak to the Pontiac Young Men's Literary Society and though he was in Bloomington for a trial, he took an afternoon train to Pontiac. His speech was a moderate success, and after the presentation, Lincoln went to the home of his friend Jason Strevell to spend the night. The local story says that Strevell and Lincoln stayed up late, talking about politics, slavery, and other national and local issues of the day. As the conversation turned to less important topics, Strevell, who was six foot tall, said he did not believe that Lincoln was really 4 inches taller that himself. Lincoln offered to let himself be measured and stood in a doorway in his stocking feet while Strevell made a scratch in the door frame to mark Lincoln's height. Strevell then measured, from floor to the mark on the door frame, and found Lincoln to be exactly, 6 foot, 4 inches tall.

Before the Strevell's left Pontiac, in 1879, they removed the door jam which was marked with Lincoln's height, and it was subsequently placed in the Salt Lake City museum started by Charles Strevell. Jason Strevell died in 1903. Strevell's home in Pontiac has recently been purchased by the Livingston County Historical Society and is currently undergoing restoration with the goal of turning it into a local history and Lincoln museum. It is not currently open to the public, but will be soon.

Address: 401 West Livingston, Pontiac, IL

The Livingston County courthouse was constructed for $800 after the County Commissioners contracted construction in 1839. The original courthouse was a strictly utilitarian design of a simple wood frame that measured twenty by thirty feet and rose two stories into the air. It was, aside from being home to the judicial events of the day, used as a meeting place for the community and the local churches, debating societies, political meetings, and even housed the local school. In the end, it became more of a multipurpose building that, as most courthouses did, became the center of the community. The county even rented rooms in the courthouse for anywhere from two to three dollars per month when the court was not in session.

In 1856, a newer courthouse (the second in Pontiac) was built and the old courthouse was used primarily as a schoolhouse.

Construction on the present-day courthouse, the county's third, began in late 1874 and was completed late the next year. The courthouse was built after fire consumed the second Livingston County Courthouse on July 4, 1874. The courthouse was designed by architect J.C. Cochrane, who was one of the designers of the "Old State Capitol". The courthouse is in a Second Empire style. It is well maintain and was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1986.