Two American icons intersect in the heart of the Abraham Lincoln National Heritage Area: Abraham Lincoln and America's mother road Route 66. Traversing the state of Illinois from Chicago to St. Louis, Route 66 winds its way through communities where Lincoln worked, gave stump speeches, and lived. From North to South, the communities of Pontiac, Bloomington, Atlanta, Lincoln, Elkhart, and Springfield tell the stories of Lincoln's life and times and historic Route 66.
Besides the sites that are directly on Route 66 noted below, there are excellent half-day side trips not too far off the Mother Road. These include:
Lincoln's New Salem, Petersberg, Illinois
This historic village of cabins lies about 20 miles northwest of Springfield, and is a peek into Lincoln's early life in Illinois.
Alton, Illinois; Rivers & Routes
This historic community along the intersection of the mighty Mississippi, Illinois, and Missouri rivers has long been an important location of Illinois early history, as well as the nation. Many historic and natural sites are waiting to be explored.
To learn more about Route 66 in Illinois visit the Illinois Route 66 Scenic Byway website.
Lincoln Sites Along Route 66 in Illinois
Route 66 Sites
Virgil Hickox Home
518 E. Capitol Ave. Springfield, Illinois 62701
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.
William Florville
624 N. Main St. Bloomington, Illinois 61701
William De Fleurville, an African-American barber, owned this property during Lincoln's time. Lincoln helped de Fleurville, known as "Billy the Barber" obtain a replacement deed for this property, and he also paid the property taxes while de Fleurville was living in Springfield. IN the late 1890's, Robert Loudon, a local businessman who owned a foundry and machine shop, built these apartment flats. They have since been converted into condominium units that now go by the name "The Bloomington".
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.
Williams Florville's Barber Shop
623 E. Adams Street Springfield, Illinois 62701
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.
World's Largest Railsplitter Covered Wagon
1750 5th St. Lincoln, Illinois 62656
Lincoln's history doesn't stop at Abraham Lincoln. Lincoln also later became a popular stop along the historic Route 66, beginning in its infancey in 1926.
In 2007, the World's Largest Covered Wagon was added along Route 66 and is recognized by the Guinness Book of World Records.