Lincoln & Route 66

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

The American House
1 SE Old State Capitol Plaza 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.

Explore this site.

The Ball Alley
111 N. 6th St. 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.

Explore this site.

The Children's Lincoln
326 S. 7th St. 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.

Explore this site.

The Lincoln Boys in 1854
1 S. Old State Capitol Plaza 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.

Explore this site.

The Lost Speech
100 US-51 BUS Bloomington, Illinois 61701

Lincoln's fiery speech against the Kansas-Nebraska Act launched him as the leader of the Illinois Republican Party.

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.    

Explore this site.

The Lyceum
200 S. 7th St. 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.

Explore this site.

The National Hotel
109 W. Front St. Bloomington, Illinois 61701

Lincoln stayed in the hotel owned by his friend John Ewing. The Ewing family later became part of the Adlai Stevenson political dynasty.

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.    

Explore this site.

The Phoenix Block
102 W. Washington St. Bloomington, Illinois 61701

Jesse Fell invited Lincoln to Kersey Fell's law office and pressed him about writing an autobiography to help promote his presidential candidacy.

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.    

Explore this site.

The Pike House
108 W. Monroe St. Bloomington, Illinois 62701

Today, Law offices and businesses occupy the site of the Pike House. The Pike House was a popular hostelry during Lincoln's day. Delegates to the May 29, 1856, Anti-Nebraska Convention gathered at this establishment and delivered speeches from the veranda. There they decried the repeal of the Missouri Compromise and the possibility of slavery expanding into heretofore-free northern territories.

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.    

Explore this site.

The Wide Awakes
215 S 6th St. 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.

Explore this site.

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