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Richard J. Oglesby is recognized as one of Decatur’s most distinguished citizens. He served his country well as a U.S. Senator, a Union General in the Civil War, a three-term governor of Illinois, and a close friend and colleague of Abraham Lincoln.

The Mansion was built in 1875-76 after his second marriage. The original plans for Oglesby Mansion were by William LeBaron Jenney, a Chicago architect who was best known for designing the first modern skyscraper. The Oglesbys modified the plans a great deal and hired a local contractor to build the house for them. Two of their four children were born while they lived in the house. In 1882 they moved to Lincoln Illinois and then to Elkhart where they built a much larger house on Elkhart Hill.

Walk into the past to an exciting place where the days before the Civil War live on. Homestead Prairie Farm is built around the Trobaugh-Good House located at Rock Springs Conservation Area. Now restored, you can explore rural life on the Grand Prairie of Illinois in 1860. It is listed on the National Register of Historic Places.

An 1840s Greek Revival cottage built by Joseph and Melissa Beckwith Lamon. The house is named in honor of Ward Hill Lamon, Lincoln’s law partner and body- guard, and cousin of Joseph Lamon. It is situated in historic Lincoln Park.

Built before the Civil War, this ornate 50-foot-tall Italianate mansion was constructed by William Reddick, a leading philanthropist, businessman, LaSalle County Sheriff, and Illinois State Senator. Standing on the corner of Columbus and Lafayette streets in Ottawa, Illinois, the magnificent structure anchors the Washington Square national Historic District and remains as a tribute to the architecture, times, and people of a bygone era.

Commissioned in 1855 and completed in 1858 in time to witness the first Lincoln-Douglas Debate across the street in Washington Square, the splendid mansion was the home of the Reddick family for nearly 30 years. The twenty-two-room building was designed by two prominent mid-western architects: William B. Olmsted and Peter A. Nicholson.

Among the many connections Pontiac has to Abraham Lincoln, one of the most interesting revolves around Lincoln's friendship with local attorney, Jason W. Strevell.  

Strevell and Lincoln were close friends and shared many hours together in conversation. One of the most documented meetings between these two gentlemen occurred on the evening of January 27, 1860. Lincoln, earlier that day, accepted an invitation to speak to the Pontiac Young Men's Literary Society. He was in Bloomington for a trial and took an afternoon train to Pontiac. His speech was only a moderate success, and after the presentation, Lincoln went to the Strevell house to spend the night. Strevell and Lincoln stayed up late, talking about politics, slavery, and the other national and local issues of the day. During the course of the conversation, Strevell suggested that Lincoln might be selected as the Republican Party's presidential candidate at the upcoming party convention. Lincoln argued that he might be chosen as a vice-presidential candidate, but did not believe he would gain the top spot on the ticket.

As the conversation turned to less important topics, Strevell, who was six foot tall, said he did not believe that Lincoln was really 4 inches taller than himself. Lincoln offered to let himself be measured and stood in a doorway in his stocking feet while Strevell made a scratch in the door frame to mark Lincoln's height. Strevell then measured, from floor to the mark on the door frame, and found Lincoln to be exactly, 6 foot, 4 inches tall.

Perched on a small rise in the center of the Hillsboro public square, the Montgomery County Historic Courthouse was built over a period of time from 1868 to 1872, but is on the same site of the previous courthouse well known to Lincoln. 

On July 15, 1843, Lincoln was in Hillsboro speaking on behalf of candidates for the Whig congressional ticket, and he spoke at the county’s second courthouse, a wood-frame structure built in 1833. His speech was not recorded in writing as Hillsboro was without a newspaper at that time. Oral histories stated that his speech was humorous and filled with stories. At that same courthouse on July 20, 1844, Lincoln addressed a large crowd, advocating for Henry Clay for President, who was defeated by James K. Polk. It’s also known that Lincoln filed legal papers at the county courthouse, but these documents were vandalized and stolen many years ago. The thief was caught, but the Lincoln signatures that had been cut from the documents were not recovered. 

The current Historic Courthouse is the third building Montgomery County has used as its courthouse since the county was formed in 1821. The need for this larger courthouse resulted from the county’s increased population, as documented by the 1870 census showing 25,314 persons living in Montgomery County.The cost of this courthouse totaled over $130,000, which included furnishings, an iron fence and sidewalk. Originally, the county jail was located on the bulding’s third floor, with the sheriff’s living quarters on the second.

The bronze, life-size statue of Abraham Lincoln was unveiled and dedicated on August 15, 2009, to commemorate the 125th celebration of Old Settlers Days and the 200th anniversary of Lincoln's birthday. 

Created by renowned Lincoln sculptor and historian, the late John McClarey of Decatur, the statue depicts Lincoln in his mid-30s, wearing a top hat and coat. He has just arrived in town, having put down his travel bag and umbrella, and is leaning back slightly to get the kinks out of his back from the long trip from Springfield. He is looking towards the plaza stage with a slight smile. 

Describing his concept for the sculpture, Mr. McClarey said, "This statue shows an aspect of Lincoln's character –– his love of music, theater and all forms of entertainment –– not portrayed in any other public statuary. Lincoln relied on music, public discourse and conversation with friends to provide the balance he needed to deal with tragedies in his personal life as well as the tragedies of war." 

The statue's title, Among Friends, recognizes the many friends Lincoln had in Hillsboro, where he often stopped and stayed overnight during trips from New Salem to Vandalia, then the state capital. The Old Settlers Association, led by the late Kathy Dagon, provided the initial $17,000 to commission Mr. McClarey. 

Private donations financed the remaining balance of the $80,000 project. Commemorative tiles lining the plaza stage and wall recognize those individuals, businesses, organizations and families who donated to the effort. 

Soon after the dedication ceremony, Hillsboro City Council designated this corner of Courthouse Square as Lincoln Plaza. It has become a popular site for a variety of activities and events, including musical performances, pep rallies and farmer's markets. Mr. Lincoln, 6'4" tall plus his top hat, is a frequent subject for selfie photographs with friends and the Historic Montgomery County Courthouse acts as the backdrop.

In just three years, more than 11,700 Confederate prisoners passed through the gates of the Alton Prison and were held captive with its walls. The Alton Prison, opened in 1833 and closed in 1860, was the first Illinois State Penitentiary. In December of 1861, after inspecting the facilities, Major General Henry Halleck, Commander of the Department of the Missouri, prepared to have the prison re-opened as a the Alton Federal Military Prison.

On Feb. 9, 1862, the first prisoners arrived at the prison. Inmates of the prison included Confederate soldiers, citizens imprisoned for treason acts, and bushwackers or guerillas imprisoned for acts against the government. Much of the time, the prison was overcrowded, prisoners were malnourished and had inadequate clothing.  

Under these dilapidated conditions, prisoners were exposed to influenza, dysentery and small pox. The small pox epidemic grew in numbers, and the official military death toll listed 1,354 deceased. A monument dedicated to those who perished can be found at their burial site in the Confederate Cemetery.

After the war, the prison was privately purchased and building blocks were removed.  The remaining small portion of the wall was restored in 1973 and may be visited today.

Fought on American soil, the Civil War was the deadliest war in American history. More than three million men fought in this “war between the states” that claimed the lives of more than 620,000 soldiers. An estimated 263 Union soldiers are buried in Alton’s National Cemetery. The men either died of disease at the Alton Hospital or onboard steamboats passing up the Mississippi River.

Located across from Route 66 Park in historic downtown Atlanta, Illinois, the Atlanta Public Library is a hub of community activity and an attraction for tourists who are making the Route 66 pilgrimage.