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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?

The Ottawa portion of the museum features collections of memorabilia relating to Ottawa’s historic past. Located on the Illinois-Michigan Canal, Ottawa was a booming canal town in the 1800s, with industry all along the lateral canal.  The museum exhibits artifacts from the past, including a carriage manufactured by the Gay Buggy Company, pianos from the Weaver Piano Factory, an organ from the Western Cottage Organ, marbles from the Peltier Marble Factory, farm equipment from Porter Manufacturing and King and Hamilton, photographic exhibits from some of our local mansions, a dress worn by a local woman during the first Lincoln-Douglas Debates, held in Ottawa in 1858, and other exhibits.

The History Museum on the Square houses permanent and rotating installations and features displays and artifacts from the pioneer era through modern times. A unique feature of the historic structure is the large, three- story, circular corner tower which is connected to an elevated front center entrance. A sculpture garden on the grounds features significant architectural artifacts from Quincy buildings that are no longer in existence.  Many of the permanent exhibits in the History Museum interpret the life and times of Abraham Lincoln. 

The museum’s grounds, manicured and welcoming, are maintained by the Master Gardeners of University of Illinois Extension Unit 14 and feature well-placed pieces from the Gardner Museum’s Sculpture Garden. 

The John Wood Memorial Plaza is located south of the Museum and is a tranquil landscaped patio area with engraved pavers and benches purchased by Society members. This beautiful space is fast-becoming a popular spot for receptions, lunches and weddings “near the Square.”  

A stone drinking fountain on the west side of the building stands as a memorial to World War I Brigadier General Henry Root Hill. 

Located in the Visitors Center next to the John Wood Mansion, the Historical Society’s Lincoln Gallery tells the story of Abraham Lincoln’s political and personal ties with Quincy and its citizens. The Lincoln-related assassination artifacts, featured in the first special exhibit at the Abraham Lincoln Presidential Museum, are showcased in the Gallery.

Quincyans served with Lincoln in the Illinois legislature from 1830 to 1850. The Kansas-Nebraska Act caused Lincoln to get back into politics in 1854 . . . bringing him to Quincy, and many local Whig politicians worked with Lincoln to launch the new Republican Party.

The nationally significant Sixth Lincoln-Douglas Debate was held in Washington Square in downtown Quincy.  Quincyans helped nominate Lincoln as the Republican candidate for President, and Quincy friends supported him on his way to the White House.  Lincoln used political patronage to reward Quincyans and used their talents to help his administration and the Union.

Quincyans regularly visited Lincoln at the White House, and Orville Browning was there frequently.  He and Eliza were “family” at the time of Willie’s funeral.  After Lincoln’s assassination, Quincyan Colonel George B. Rutherford guarded the body at the Peterson House.  Browning was present at the autopsy and served as a pallbearer at Lincoln’s funeral.  Later, assassination artifacts came to Quincy due to Lincoln's close ties with Quincyans.

Opened in the spring of 2002, the museum center is a near replica of the 1833 county courthouse where Abraham Lincoln practiced law from 1841-1859. The museum center includes a Lincoln/Lamon law office recreation, among other Lin- coln memorabilia. The museum is housed on two floors (ADA accessible) and sits directly behind the Fithian Home.

Covering the Revolutionary War, Civil War and other wars through current times, this 14,000 sq. ft. museum displays artifacts and memorabilia from all conflicts.  It features special displays for D-Day, Medal of Honor, Prisoners of War, Trench Art, Merchant Marines, communication systems, rare uniforms, and the LST-325.  A Blue-Star museum, it was voted the finest of its type in the country.

Vespasian Warner Public Library District maintains a large local history collection and houses the collection of the DeWitt County Genealogical Society, as well as revolving exhibits of the Lincoln Heritage Committee of DeWitt County.  Historical programs and Lincoln related presentations occur throughout the year.

Lincoln author and poet Carl Sandburg was born in this modest three-room cottage on January 6, 1878. The home reflects typical living conditions of a late-nineteenth century working class family. Many of the furnishings once belonged to the Sandburg family. Behind the home is a small wooded park that features a simple memorial to the poet. Sandburg’s ashes were returned, as he had requested, to his Galesburg birthplace. They were placed in the park under a granite boulder called Remembrance Rock. Next to Sandburg’s birthplace is a visitor center which features a film about Sandburg and a variety of exhibits which recount important details of his life. Phone: 309-342-2361 

Listed on the National Register of Historic Places, the restored, fully-furnished mansion and spacious grounds whisk visitors back to the Victorian era.  The historic house was once home to Clinton attorney, Clifton H. Moore.  Visitors will enjoy tours of the mansion and carriage barn, view special exhibits and displays, including stories of the law partnership, political ties, and friendship shared by C.H. Moore and Abraham Lincoln during Lincoln's time in DeWitt County.  The DeWitt County Museum is also the home of the annual Apple 'n Pork Festival.

In 1837, Dr. John Deskins constructed Middletown's nine-room Stagecoach Inn and Tavern. George Dunlap purchased it and became the proprietor in 1838. The building still stands today, called the Dunlap House, and is the oldest wooden building of it's kind in Illinois. Abraham Lincoln later frequented Middletown and stayed at the Tavern when he was a traveling lawyer on the 8th Judicial Circuit.