When Abraham Lincoln first arrived in Illinois in 1831, he worked variously as a clerk, a storekeeper and a postmaster in the frontier village of New Salem before studying law and moving to Springfield. In Petersburg, 20 miles northwest of Springfield, Lincoln's New Salem State Historic Site reconstructs the village with building replicas, historical displays and costumed performances – a pretty informative and entertaining package.
Lincoln's New Salem State Historic Site
Illinois
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14.73 MILES
After his assassination, Lincoln's body was returned to Springfield, where it lies in an impressive tomb in Oak Ridge Cemetery, 1.5 miles north of…
2. Lincoln Presidential Library & Museum
16.05 MILES
This museum contains the most complete Lincoln collection in the world. Real-deal artifacts such as Abe's shaving mirror and presidential seal join whiz…
16.06 MILES
Illinois' 'new' and current state capitol occupies a soaring French Renaissance/Second Empire–style building, completed in 1888, topped by a 405ft zinc…
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Chatterbox docents will take you through the Greek Revival–style building, which served as the seat of state government from 1839 to 1876, and regale you…
5. Lincoln Home National Historic Site
16.39 MILES
An entire four-block neighborhood has been preserved as part of the Lincoln Home National Historic Site. Visits begin at the National Park Service visitor…
16.4 MILES
The third-largest home Frank Lloyd Wright ever designed, this remarkably preserved Prairie School icon dating to 1902–04 is – dare we say it – more…