Interactive Map

Zachariah Nairn Garbutt was born in New York in 1814. He studied law in Washington, D. C. Later he moved west settling in Jacksonville, Illinois where he continued the reading of law. In May of 1839 he received his license. In that same year he came to Pike County, Illinois. 

Being strong Whig Party supporter he and others started the Free Press newspaper in 1846.   Sometime in 1848 Garbutt advertised that he needed an intelligent boy between 14 – 17 years of age who could read and write for the position of printers devil.  

Joel Pennington proprietor of the Mansion House Hotel in Pittsfield knew young John George Nicolay from when he lived in Greene County, Illinois. Pennington may have sent word to Nicolay about the job resulting in Nicolay walking to Pittsfield where he spent the night on sacks of wool at the Carding Mill. The next morning he applied for the position at the Free Press. 

Mr. and Mrs Garbutt took a liking to John Nicolay treating him like a son. He was always welcome in their home. By 1849 Garbutt retired from the Free Press. In 1853 Nicolay was voted a partner in the ownership.  One year later he became the sole proprietor and editor of the paper.

Lincoln was dubbed the railsplitter candidate at the 1860 Illinois State Republican Convention held in Decatur.  Learn more of the story of how he got this nickname by visiting the wayside!

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.    

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.

Thomas Lincoln Cemetery is located next door to the Shiloh Presbyterian Church.

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.    

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.    

Why was Quincy a center of commerce in Lincoln’s day, even being made a Federal port by Congress? Quincy had become the leading pork-packer in the nation.  Soon it became a manufacturing powerhouse with foundries producing stoves and farm implements, mills, breweries, distilleries, carriage- and cabinet making, machining, warehouses, and tobacco processing.

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

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.