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Dr. Richard Eells built this home, now located within the Downtown Quincy Historic District, in 1835.  

Eells built only the front portion of the house as it stands today, four blocks from the Mississippi River. He lived here until his death in 1848. Quincy, Illinois, was the first Underground Railroad station across the border of Missouri—a slave state. An abolitionist, Eells was actively involved in the Underground Railroad. In 1842 he was caught helping an escaped slave, Charley, from Monticello, Missouri. Charley was brought to the Eells house by a freed black, Barryman Barnett, who had spotted Charley swimming across the Mississippi River. While transporting Charley to Quincy's Mission Institute, a safer hiding place, Eells came across a posse looking for Charley. Charley fled, on Eells's advice, and was later found and returned to Missiouri. Eells returned home where he was shortly arrested and charged with harboring and secreting a fugitive slave under the Illinois Criminal Code. Judge Stephen A. Douglas heard the case in April 1843, and fined Eells $400, which he appealed.

Meanwhile, Eells became president of the Illinois Anti-Slavery Party in 1843 and was a candidate for the Liberty Party for the presidential election of 1844. He lost his appeal to the Illinois Supreme Court, the process of which drained him financially and emotionally. Eells died on a river boat on the Ohio River while on a a trip east to rest. His estate appealed his case to United States Supreme Court, which also upheld the guilt verdict. The town of Quincy is also notable as the location of the sixth Lincoln-Douglas debate of their senatorial campaign on October 13, 1858, a debate which centered on the question of expansion of slavery.

Today, this restored home houses the Quincy Underground Railroad Museum, and interprets the story of the Underground Railroad and Eels.

The showcase homestead of Jacksonville's extensive Underground Railroad network. Former slaves were ushered through this home on their way to freedom. This Farm, five miles east of Jacksonville, was established in 1824 by Michael Huffaker. Michael and his wife, Jane, rode by horseback from Kentucky, bought land east of Jacksonville, and built a cabin for their growing family and four cabins for free black families who helped Michael raise cattle, horses and crops. In 1840 he built the two story brick home which stands to this day on the property. Michael and his family were members of the Antioch Christian Church founded by Barton Stone.

Former Illinois Senator Lyman Trumbull's house is now a national landmark located in Alton, Illinois. Trumbull served as a longtime senator of Illinois and a staunch Abraham Lincoln and Republican Party supporter. Trumbull authored the 13th Amendment for the U.S. Constitution which abolished slavery.

The Living Lincoln Topiary Monument is a 15 feet high and 8 feet wide bust of our 16th President, Abraham Lincoln. It’s mixed media construction of durable cast stone and steel features a unique topiary aspect in which the 16th president’s beard consist of real living flowering plants and greenery, making it the only sculpture of its kind in the world!

The monument was designed as the centerpiece of Unforgettable Forgottonia‘s Looking For Lincoln Self-Guided Tour, which illustrates Abraham Lincoln‘s long and significant connection to Macomb and McDonough County.

Siting majestically on Macomb’s City Hall lawn this incredible bust of “Honest Abe” was the concept of artist and WIU professor Duke Oursler. The sculpture was created and constructed by Oursler with the assistance of artist Marc Moulton.

The Macomb Area Convention & Visitors Bureau partnered with Oursler on the project with funding provided by The Macomb Rotary Clubs in recognition of its 2020 centennial anniversary.

The project is managed by MACVB with Macomb Centennial Morning Rotary Club’s and the Macomb Beautiful Association‘s assistance in the maintenance and upkeep of the sculptures topiary aspect.

The beautifully restored, nineteenth-century estate tells the story of Judge David Davis, whose influence on Abraham Lincoln's legal and political career was crucial to President Lincoln's success. Lincoln often visited his friend, fellow lawyer and political advisor here at his home.

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.    

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.    

On Monday September 27th Lincoln arrived in Jacksonville by train from Springfield and was met by large delegations from Morgan, Cass, and Scott Counties. They moved from the depot to the square where Lincoln made one of his sixty-three speeches he had done across the state, contesting for the U.S. Senate. Lincoln was said to have spoken for two and a half hours.

John Hanks was a favorite relation of Lincoln’s through his mother Nancy Hanks’s family.  John moved to Macon County in 1828 and it was his letters to Thomas Lincoln, Abraham’s father, that motivated Thomas to move his family to Illinois in 1830.  Abraham remained close to John and was involved in his political rise.  John died in 1889 at the age of 87 and is buried at Boiling Springs Cemetery.

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.    

This Looking for Lincoln wayside exhibit tells the story fo Lincoln's friendship with Dr. William Fithian, client, friend, and pioneer physician.  Located on the grounds of the Vermilion County Museum this exhibit rests below the balcony from which in stocking feet, Lincoln spoke to a waiting crowd.  

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.    

Learn about Civil War veteran, Albert Cashier, and his lifelong secret.

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 250 Looking for Lincoln waysides across the Abraham Lincoln National Heritage Area.