Interactive Map

View over 40 outdoor interpretive exhibits placed throughout the downtown area to experience Springfield as Abraham Lincoln knew it. Each exhibit is intended to capture a moment in time for Lincoln and how he was affected by the people, places and events he encountered in his hometown. Each story is accompanied by graphics or photographs and a medallion that is symbolic of that particular story. Visitors are encouraged to collect rubbings of each medallion.

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.    

View over 40 outdoor interpretive exhibits placed throughout the downtown area to experience Springfield as Abraham Lincoln knew it. Each exhibit is intended to capture a moment in time for Lincoln and how he was affected by the people, places and events he encountered in his hometown. Each story is accompanied by graphics or photographs and a medallion that is symbolic of that particular story. Visitors are encouraged to collect rubbings of each medallion.

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.    

Just across 4th Street from the location of the newspaper, learn about Andrew Johnston’s personal and political ties with Lincoln and about Johnston’s nephew, George Pickett.  Editor Johnston published two poems by Lincoln in the Quincy Whig, a strongly partisan Whig then Republican newspaper.

Looking for Exhibits Wayside Exhibits related to Quincy in the Lincoln Era are located at 18 sites. The exhibits provide details about Lincoln, events, local people, and environment that contributed to Lincoln's Quincy story. 

Guide to Lincoln's Quincy:  https://seequincy.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/05/lincoln-in-quincy_web_2016.pdf

Not everyone in DeWitt County personally befriended or politically supported Lincoln.  DeWitt County was home to numerous Copperheads.  in March 1863, a disgruntled group met at Eads Schoolhouse in Barnett Township.  It was written, "The meeting was composed of some seventy opposition and ten or twelve true and law abiding citizens.  Thus you see the matter was carried on like a jug handle-all on one side."  The Lincoln antagonists compiled a long list of strong worded anti-Lincoln, anti-war, anti-Union resolutions.  These were printed in The Clinton Public newspaper...

In 1860, Thomas Snell, a wealthy and influential Clinton businessman and staunch Lincoln adversary, was a candidate for Illinois Lieutenant Governor on the pro-Southern Breckenridge ticket.  After the election, however, and much to his friend's astonishment, Snell's political allegiances changed.  He was outraged by the attack on Fort Sumter, which proved a catalyst for the Civil War -- and Snell's newfound Unionist loyalties..

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.    

Abraham Lincoln's Funeral Train passed thorugh Bloominton headed to Springfield, Illinois Lincoln's final resting place. 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.   

A proper Presbyterian Church was under construction in the summer of 1859.  A floor was laid, walls, roof, and belfry nearly completed, when "a halt due to lack of funds" occurred.  In October 1859, money was urgently needed to complete construction.  The view from the building site to the DeWitt County Courthouse on the public square was unobstructed.  Recognizing opportunity, the church ladies held a festival during court week to take maximum advantage of the generosity of visitors to town on legal business.  Lincoln, wearing his stovepipe hat, was among those in attendance.  Two church ladies, Mrs. Elizabeth Kent and Miss Roberts, greeted him at the entrance -- for there was no door -- and politely offered to take Lincoln's hat.  Lincoln declined the offer, stating he had some important papers in it.  Instead of handing the hat over, Lincoln placed it high on an unfinished beam, safely out of reach of others...

Lincoln's hat is an historical icon.  At the Presbyterian Church event in October 1859, Lincoln was cautious about letting his hat out of his sight.  There was one instance, however, when Lincoln was not so hesitant to part with it.  In August 1864, Lincoln confided the following to his good friend, Ward Hill Lamon, with whom he spent many evenings in DeWitt County during their days on the Eighth Judicial Circuit:  "I went to the Soldiers' Home alone, riding Old Abe... jogging along at a slow gait., immersed in deep thought... when suddenly I was aroused... by the report of a rifle."  The shot caused Lincoln's horse to start, and, in Lincoln's words, "with one reckless bound he unceremoniously separated me from my eight-dollar plug hat." A soldier on guard duty heart the shot...

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.    

View over 40 outdoor interpretive exhibits placed throughout the downtown area to experience Springfield as Abraham Lincoln knew it. Each exhibit is intended to capture a moment in time for Lincoln and how he was affected by the people, places and events he encountered in his hometown. Each story is accompanied by graphics or photographs and a medallion that is symbolic of that particular story. Visitors are encouraged to collect rubbings of each medallion.