This charming little river town is one of the oldest in Illinois, first settled in 1819 – just one year after Illinois became a state. In the heart of this community nestled on the shores of the Illinois River, you'll find the Beardstown Courthouse. Here Abraham Lincoln the lawyer argued many court cases, including the famous "Almanac Trial" – where Lincoln used the Farmer's Almanac to prove his theory in a murder trial. During the Black Hawk War, Lincoln came to Beardstown to be installed as a Captain of the Sangamon County Company. These are just a couple of the Lincoln stories you'll find in Beardstown.
For more information:
Location
Legend
8th Judicial Circuit
Courthouse
Friends of Lincoln
Good for Kids
Guided/Self-Guided Tours
Historic House
Historic Site
Lincoln-Douglas Debate
Museum
Passport Site
Recreational
Route 66
Top Destination
Underground Railroad
Visitor Information
Wayside Exhibit
Nearby Sites
Old Lincoln Courtroom & Museum
101 W. 3rd St. Beardstown, Illinois 62618
The Old Lincoln Courtroom & Museum in Beardstown is one of the most exceptional sights on the Looking for Lincoln Heritage Trail.
The Beardstown Historical Museum, housed in the Courthouse, has some very fine collections, including historically and culturally significant objects and artifacts relating to the community, the central Illinois region, and our Native American Heritage.
Do you know that the courtroom in Beardstown where Lincoln defended Duff Armstrong in the famous Almanac Trial is the only courtroom where Lincoln practiced that is still used as a courtroom to this day?
Captain Abraham Lincoln
201 Wall St. Beardstown, Illinois 62618
Schmoldt Park is the location of Abraham Lincolns’s election as captain during the Blackhawk War.
Looking for Lincoln wayside exhibits tell the stories of Lincoln’s life and times in Illinois. Each wayside exhibit tells a unique Lincoln story and a local story. Many of the waysides share little known stories about Lincoln and the individuals he interacted with. There are over 260 Looking for Lincoln waysides in the Abraham Lincoln National Heritage Area.
Lincoln and Blackhawk
201 Wall St. Beardstown, Illinois 62618
Looking for Lincoln wayside exhibits tell the stories of Lincoln’s life and times in Illinois. Each wayside exhibit tells a unique Lincoln story and a local story. Many of the waysides share little known stories about Lincoln and the individuals he interacted with. There are over 260 Looking for Lincoln waysides in the Abraham Lincoln National Heritage Area.
Lincoln and the River
N. State Street Beardstown, Illinois 62618
Looking for Lincoln wayside exhibits tell the stories of Lincoln’s life and times in Illinois. Each wayside exhibit tells a unique Lincoln story and a local story. Many of the waysides share little known stories about Lincoln and the individuals he interacted with. There are over 260 Looking for Lincoln waysides in the Abraham Lincoln National Heritage Area.
Lincoln in Beardstown
111 W. Main Street Beardstown, Illinois 62618
Looking for Lincoln wayside exhibits tell the stories of Lincoln’s life and times in Illinois. Each wayside exhibit tells a unique Lincoln story and a local story. Many of the waysides share little known stories about Lincoln and the individuals he interacted with. There are over 260 Looking for Lincoln waysides in the Abraham Lincoln National Heritage Area.