While in town, stop by the Logan County Genealogy and Historical Museum (144 North Chicago Street). Call for hours (217) 732-3200. Here you can learn about Logan County’s rich history and genealogy.
Before you leave the Main Street town of Lincoln, visit the Postville Courthouse (PO Box 355). The courthouse is a reproduction of the original 1840 courthouse visited by Abraham Lincoln. The courthouse is a State Historic Site administered by the Illinois Historic Preservation Agency.
Travel from Lincoln southeast to Decatur. Decatur has several museums, including the Children’s Museum of Illinois (55 S. Country Club Rd.). This museum has many hands-on exhibits and education programs for children. For more information, please call 217.423.5437 or www.cmofil.com.
Other Decatur museums include the Gallery 510 Arts Guild, LTD. (510 W. Decatur St.), Hieronymus Mueller Museum (61 S. Country Club Rd.), Rock Springs Nature Center (Macon County Conservation District, 3939 Nearing Ln) and the James Millikin Homestead (Millikin University, PO Box 1501).
The next stop on your Illinois Main Street Museum Tour is the state capitol in Springfield. Home to a variety of museums, including the Abraham Lincoln Presidential Library and Museum set to open April 19, 2005, Springfield offers visitors a wide interpretation of architectural, cultural, natural and social living.
Take time to visit the Dana Thomas House (301 East Lawrence). This Frank Lloyd Wright home is representative of prairie living and was built between 1902-1904. The house has original windows and art glass doors and light fixtures, as well as original oak furniture. The Dana Thomas House is overseen by the Illinois Historic Preservation Agency. Another notable Springfield museum is the Illinois Fire Museum (Central Avenue at Main Street). You’ll find antique fire service memorabilia in addition to modern-day firefighting equipment at the museum. Housed in a 1938 fire station, the museum displays a 1857 horse-drawn hand pumper with water buckets.
Be sure to stop by the Illinois State Military Museum (1301 North MacArthur) to view artifacts of Illinois citizen-soldiers and exhibits featuring famous soldiers like Carl Sandburg, Robert McMormick, John Logan and Abraham Lincoln. The Illinois State Museum (502 South Spring Street) offers visitors of all ages the opportunity to learn about Illinois’ cultural and natural history, anthropology and fine arts. Children can enjoy the museum’s “A Place for History” gallery which provides nature education, including examining butterflies, snake skins and seashells under a microscope.
Spend time exploring the Lincoln Home National Historic Site (413 South 8 th Street). The National Park Service operates the site which was home to Abraham Lincoln and his family from 1844-1860. The Lincoln Home sits in a historic neighborhood and offers a look at the former president and his family. There is a visitor center and museum shop on site as well as educational programs.
Springfield also is home to the popular Old State Capitol Historic Site (1 Old State Capitol Plaza). This rebuilt site served as the Illinois state capitol from 1837-1876. Here you can learn about Abraham Lincoln’s young political career as he spent time at the Old Capitol preparing speeches and researching election results. Take a tour of this historic site – the last tour leaves at 4:30 pm. Hours are 9:00 am – 5:00 pm.
A trip to our state capitol and Main Street town of Springfield wouldn’t be complete without a quick stop at Shea’s Gas Station Museum (2075 Peoria Road). Make sure to take photos of Bill Shea’s gas station memorabilia which has fascinated Rt. 66 travelers for over 50 years!
Travel on to Beardstown, where you can visit the Lincoln Courthouse Museum (101 W. 3rd St.) and see the only remaining courtroom where Abraham Lincoln practiced law. Also known as the Cass County Courthouse, built around 1845, the Lincoln Courthouse Museum was the location of the historic Almanac Trial. Hours of operation are 8am – 5pm, Monday through Friday and weekends are by appointment only.
Just south of Beardstown is Jacksonville, home to the Art Association of Jacksonville (331 West College). The association was formed in 1873 and was given the David Strawn Home in 1915 for use as an art gallery. The Art Association of Jacksonville displays monthly exhibits featuring local and national artists. Gallery collections include a Mississippian Indian Pottery collection and the Charles Prentice Thompson Classical collection.
Journey southeast of Jacksonville to Christian County and the Illinois Main Street town of Taylorville . Here you can visit the Christian County Coal Mine Museum (115 North Washington Street). Learn about the coal mining heritage of Christian County and view documents, videos and books relating to this subject.
Take the time to stop by the Christian County Historical Society and Museum (PO Box 254) to learn about Christian County history. |
