Among the early settlers of the Charleston area were Thomas and Sarah Bush Lincoln, Abraham Lincoln's father and stepmother, who lived south of town in a cabin on the Goosenest Prairie. Although Abraham Lincoln was never a resident, he visited Charleston for business and pleasure with some regularity. In the 1840s and 1850s, Lincoln tried many court cases in the county courthouse including the famous Matson Slave Trial in which he argued in favor of a local slave owner's rights.

In 1858, Charleston was the scene of the fourth Lincoln Douglas debate. The aspiring politician Abraham Lincoln, debated the issue of states rights and race relations in front of a crowd of 12,000 people. It was to Charleston that Lincoln made his last trip from Springfield before going to Washington. Lincoln's affection for the humble folk of Goosenest Prairie and Charleston remained strong throughout his life.

Today, Charleston is a dynamic community with a population of over 21,000. Charleston is home to, Eastern Illinois University. In addition to four Lincoln historic Charleston Charleston as a series of outdoor murals, an art museum, a concert hall, theatres, bike trails, golf courses and parks, shops and restaurants. Charleston is proud of its rich history and welcomes visitors with true Midwestern hospitality.

For information:
Charleston Tourism Office
217-348-0430
www.charlestontourism.org

Vandalia, the state capitol from 1820 to 1839, is the place where Lincoln officially started his political career when he was elected the state legislator from New Salem in 1834. The vote to make Springfield the capital was a controversial one and Lincoln played an important part in that effort. The Vandalia Statehouse is an elegant structure in the federal style, which was built by city residents in a failed attempt to keep the capital in Vandalia. All three branches of state government were contained in this building for the first time in the state's history. Across from this imposing building is a small pocket park where visitors can take a photo of Lincoln sitting with the capitol in the background. Vandalia is located at the junction of I-70, US-51 and IL-85.

The City is only 67 miles from St. Louis and 80 miles from Springfield. Vandalia was the western terminus of the old National Road and the spot is marked by the Madonna of the Trails, an impressive 18 foot statue that honors the pioneer women who once traveled the National Road to open the West. Across the street is the Fayettte County Museum, which houses memorabilia of the Lincoln-era and tells the story of the people of Fayette County.

For information:
Vandalia Chamber of Commerce
618-283-2728
www.vandaliaillinois.com

The village of Bement is situated in the heart of Illinois between Champaign and Decatur. The historic site, just a short block south of Veterans Memorial Park, is located at the intersection of Illinois highway 105 and Wilson Street. Beautiful old shade trees shelter picnic tables and a series of three Looking for Lincoln wayside exhibits describing the Bement connection to Lincoln and Douglas.

Children can bring a sack lunch and take rubbing from each of the story boards. The site also includes the Bryant Cottage where Douglas was known to have stayed and some believe Lincoln and Douglas met to discuss debate details.

For information:
www.bement.com

Once known as Middletown, this Champaign County community, settled in 1832, was situated midway between both Danville and Bloomington and Danville and Decatur, county seats along the 8th Judicial Circuit. As Middletown grew, so did inns and taverns, and Lincoln is thought to have stayed in at least two of them. The Nine Gal Tavern, colorfully named for the nine red-headed daughters of its proprietor, was actually known as the Ohio Tavern when Lincoln purportedly stopped there.

Thomas Davidson ran the Ohio Tavern from 1853 to 1856. Legend has it that when Abraham Lincoln passed through on his way from Decatur to Urbana, he liked to bounce little Jimmy Davidson on his knee. Likewise the Bloomfield or Rea Tavern, operated by Sarah Rea, carried with it a Lincoln story. The inn had two floors, and when Lincoln went up to sleep in the second story, he had to duck his head to pass through the narrow overhead clearance on the staircase, the ceiling was so low.

A stroll down Main Street offers residents and visitors alike evidence of the Mahomet Chamber's motto "Preserving the Past/Building the Future." Located within this historic streetscape, you will find interesting shops such as: Main Street Mercantile, Wind Water and Light Gallery, Prairie Boatworks Gallery, The Victorian House, City Chicks, and Country Rose Floral and Gifts.

mahomet.govoffice.com/

Danville is the first stop from the East coming from I-74 and for those looking for a unique location, try picturesque Danville/Vermilion County, ideally located on I-74 in the heart of Central Illinois. For the history buff-- had you been walking down Vermilion Street in Danville in the early 1850's you very possibly might have run into a tall, somewhat unkempt, young attorney crossing from his office to the courthouse to argue a case in the 8th Judicial Circuit.

Abraham Lincoln practiced law in Danville from 1841 until 1859. It was here he made his final address in Illinois from his train bound for Washington on February 11, 1861. Visitors can visit the Vermilion County Museum, designed to replicate the courthouse that was here when Lincoln practiced law, and the adjacent Fithian Home, a Lincoln site on the National Register of Historic Places.

Another great museum is the Vermilion County War Museum, housed in a former Carnegie Library building, one of the most impressive in Illinois. For the nature buff...the adventurous can canoe down the Middle Fork River, the only federally designated scenic river in Illinois, or enjoy our over 15,000 acres of public parkland.

For information:
Danville Area Convention & Visitors Bureau
217-442-2096 or 800-383-4386
www.danvillecvb.com

Macon County Historical Museum Complex This five-acre site contains a number of buildings that help to interpret the heritage of the area. Called the Prairie Village, this complex contains the Mueller Gun Shop, which by means of a recently produced video retraces Lincoln’s history in Macon County. An old Log Court House, originally on another site was saved and moved to this property. It is significant because Lincoln tried two cases in this building.

Directions/Location:
Take the Airport Road off of east or west bound Route 36, turn north past airport to first stop sign which is North Fork/Country Club Roads, turn right to 5580 North Fork Road.

Phone: 217-422-4919

Hours of Operation:
Sunday & Monday: Closed
Tuesday - Saturday: 1:00 - 4:00

Macon County has a rich Lincoln history and many Lincoln “firsts.” Decatur was the first Illinois home of the Abraham Lincoln family, he was first nominated for the presidency at the state Republican party convention and he made his first political speech in downtown Decatur. In addition when he rode the circuit he tried several cases in Decatur. The log courthouse where those cases were heard still exists in the Prairie Village at the Macon County Historical Society Museum. The museum also features a video called “Lincoln in Macon County” that tells the story of his relationship to this area.

There are tremendous opportunities for recreation including beautiful Lake Decatur, which is surrounded by parks, nature trails and a golf course. Scoville Park on the lake includes the Children’s Museum of Illinois and the Scoville Zoo, as well as a wonderful playground and picnic area. It is the perfect place to take the kids. Added to all of this are 300 plus festivals and events each year. This and Decatur’s central location make it an ideal jumping off place to look for Lincoln.

For Information:
Decatur Area Convention & Visitor Bureau 1800-331-4479
www.decaturcvb.com

This new museum is the only one in Illinois that retraces the senatorial debates of 1858 between Abraham Lincoln and Stephen Douglas. One of these debates took place in Charleston on this spot. The museum addresses the significance of the debates, what the issues were and how these important dialogues affected the country. Using exhibits, interactive displays, audio selections, artifacts and photos, the story of the Lincoln Douglas Debates is told in an interesting a compelling way. The museum also includes a Children’s Hands-On Area, a Gift Shop and a life-size sculpture of Lincoln and Douglas.

Directions/Location:
Just 10 minutes east of I-57 and 20 minutes north of I-70. From Illinois Route 16 (Lincoln Avenue) in Charleston, turn north on "E" Street. Go six blocks to Madison Avenue. Turn west into the Coles County Fairgrounds and proceed to main entrance and parking.

Phone: 217-348-0430

Hours of Operation:
Monday - Sunday : 9:00 - 4:00

Lincoln Log Cabin State Historic Site Lincoln Log Cabin was the home of Thomas and Sarah Bush Lincoln, father and stepmother of a future president. This is the last home that his father owned. Today the site includes a working, living history farm developed around a two-room cabin. Nearby is a second farmstead, the Stephen Sargent Farm. It was moved to this site in order to help visitors understand rural life in Illinois during the 1840’s and enable them to compare two different farms. The site also offers a broad array of interpretive programs, a beautiful visitor center and museum and gift shop. This site is currently closed. While non of the buildings are open it is possible to explore the grounds. Call 217-345-1845 to check for special events.

Directions/Location:
Eight (8) miles south of Charleston on 4th Street (Lincoln Highway Road). Charleston is approximately 10 miles east of Interstate 57 on Illinois Rt. 16.

Phone: 217-345-1845

Hours of Operation:
May 15 to Labor Day - 7 days a week 9 to 5
September 8 to April 30 - Wednesday to Sunday 9 to 4
Winter Hours call for information and times

Completed in 2002, this reproduction of an early Danville court house tells of Danville’s rich Lincoln history. He tried over 200 cases in the courts here and had many friends in this community. As visitors enter the museum, the first thing they see is an imposing statue that represents the Lincoln that his friends from Danville would have recognized.

The museum also houses a recreation of the law office that Danville attorney Ward Hill Lamon shared with Lincoln, and includes a desk that Lincoln actually used. There are many other fine exhibits in this museum that reflect the history of Vermilion County.

Directions/Location:
116 N. Gilbert – Corner of Gilbert and Lafayette Streets.
85 miles from Indinapolis on I-74 and 120 miles from Springfield on I-74 and I-72.

Phone: 217-442-2922

Hours of Operation:
January-Cecember
Tuesday-Saturday, 10:00 - 5:00

While the general focus of this museum is on the history of Champaign County and east central Illinois, exhibits throughout the museum describe Lincoln’s Champaign County contemporaries and the environment as it would have been during his many trips to the county. A journey through this museum helps to create a picture of what life was like on the prairies as Lincoln traveled the 8th Judicial Circuit. Another section of the museum describes the impact that the Civil War had on Lincoln’s Champaign acquaintances who quickly joined the Union Forces when war was declared. Exhibits throughout the museum highlight the connection to the Lincoln story.

Directions/Location:
In the Lake of the Woods Forest Preserve on Route 47 and right off I-74. 10 miles from Champaign/Urbana, 40 miles from Bloomington on I-74 and 80 miles from Springfield on Route 47 and I-72.

Phone: 217-586-2612

Hours of Operation:
March-December, Dail, 1:00-5:00
June, July & August, Monday-Saturday, 10:00-5:00
Sunday, 1:00-5:00

Lincoln spent his first years as a legislator in Vandalia which was the capital of Illinois from 1820 to 1839. Here began to hone his skills as a legislator and an orator and it is here that his fellow legislators began to recognize his leaderships skills. The building is an imposing white-painted brick structure situated on an attractive public square in downtown Vandalia. Totally restored and appropriately furnished, a tour of this building is a lesson in the early politics of Illinois and Lincoln’s place in that story. Please call ahead to confirm hours of operation: 618-283-1161

Directions/Location: Corner of Route 61 and Gallatin Street – 80 miles south of Springfield on routes 29 and 51 and 75 miles from downtown St. Louis on I-70.

Phone: 618-283-1161

Hours of Operation: May 1 to September 7 - 7 days a week - 9-5
September 8 to February 28 - Tuesday-Saturday 9-4
March 1 to April 30 - Tuesday-Saturday 9-5

Dr. William Fithian was Danville’s most prominent physician during most of the 19th Century. The house that he built is still standing and is part of the Vermilion County Museum Complex. Lincoln was known to have spent time in this home as Dr. Fithian was not only a doctor, but was also very active in Vermilion County politics. In 1858, during the senate campaign, Lincoln made an impromptu speech from the second floor balcony outside the bedroom that he frequently occupied. The house contains a bed that Lincoln slept in that night. The home is located next to the newly completed Vermilion County Museum.

Directions/Location: 116 N. Gilbert – Corner of Gilbert and Lafayette Streets. 85 miles from Indinapolis on I-74 and 120 miles from Springfield on I-74 and I-72.

Phone: 217-442-2922

Hours of Operation:
January-December
Tuesday-Saturday, 10:00-5:00

In 1823, the General Assembly deeded the land and provided the funds for the first structure built on this site. The legislative act stated that the land and the funding were to be used to erect a "House of Divine Worship, free for all denominations to worship in...." In 1867, the old House of Divine Worship was moved to a new location and the Presbyterians built the church currently on the site.

In 1970 the Presbyterians built a new church and Historical Vandalia, Inc. purchased the old building opening the Fayette County Museum. Staffed by volunteers and operating on donations, the museum is one of Vandalia, Illinois' major tourist attractions. Each year thousands of school children and tourists have the opportunity to view artifacts dating back to the days when Vandalia was the Capitol of Illinois from 1819 to 1839. This building is on the National Registry of Historic Places.

Directions/Location:
Fayette County Museum
301 W Main
Vandalia, Illinois 62471

Phone: (618) 283-4866 or (618) 283-1534

Hours: Monday through Saturday from 9:30 am to 4 pm
Sundays (April-December), from 1 pm to 4 pm
We are closed on Sundays from January to March

Admission: Free

Bryant Cottage was built by Bement businessman Francis Bryant in 1856. The four-room cottage is open to the public seven days a week for tours, twelve months a year, with extended hours on special days throughout the year. For groups of 15 for more, arrangements are available by calling (217) 678-8184.

The cottage is tastefully appointed with period furnishings throughout each of the warm and charming rooms. During December, Bryant Cottage hosts a Holiday Candlelight Open House on the second Sunday of December.

Legend has it that Abraham Lincoln and Stephen A. Douglas met at this very site in Bement to discuss the format for the famous Lincoln-Douglas debates in 1858. Douglas was known to have been a close associate of Francis Bryant of Bement.

For information:
Bryant Cottage State Park
The Lincoln-Douglas Pre-Debate Site
www.bement.net/bryant.htm