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.
A short drive north across the Illinois River valley, you will find Rushville. The community boasts a number of Looking for Lincoln wayside exhibits, along with an impressive local museum and genealogy society with artifacts telling the history of the community.
For more information:
Old Lincoln Courtroom/Visitor Center
101 West Third Street
Beardstown, Illinois 62618
(217) 323-3225
https://lincolninbeardstown.org/
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?
Schuyler Jail Museum & Genealogical Center
200 S. Congress St. Rushville, Illinois 62681
The Schuyler Jail Museum and Genealogical Center of Rushville is located in the old jail building of Schuyler County.
In 1968, the site was leased to the Schuyler-Brown Historical Society, and transform the building into a museum and genealogical center, serving Schuyler County and the surrounding counties. Volunteers maintain local genealogical collections, while the museum features pioneer life and farm life, as well as interpretaion of the jail portion of the building.
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.