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Current News

LaHood Honored as a 2025 Heritage Champion
Saturday, February 15, 2025

The Alliance of National Heritage Areas (ANHA) honored Rep. Darin LaHood (R-IL) as a 2025 Heritage Champion. Rep. LaHood and three others were recognized during ANHA’s annual Congressional Breakfast and Awards Reception.

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Eleven Illinois Communities Receive Grants for Lincoln-Related Projects
Wednesday, February 12, 2025

Eleven entities have been awarded grants from the Abraham Lincoln National Heritage Area, also known as Looking for Lincoln. The funds are designated for creating or refreshing exhibits in museums or visitor centers, creating digital interpretive projects

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Grant Opportunity for Lincoln Interpretation
Tuesday, December 17, 2024

The Abraham Lincoln National Heritage Area is offering a funding opportunity for up to $10,000 for eligible education and interpretive projects for organizations within the Abraham Lincoln National Heritage Area, also known as Looking for Lincoln.

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Upcoming Events

The Underground Railroad in Livingston County
Wednesday, April 2, 2025 7:00 PM - 8:00 PM

A review of the Underground Railroad in Livingston County, Illinois. Program includes information about two different routes that were used in Livingston County including a map of one of the routes. Program includes the names and locations of about 15 people who were either Conductors on the Underground Railroad or were strong Abolitionists that supported the Underground Railroad.

Dale C. Maley is the President of the Livingston County Historical Society and Vice-President of the Fairbury Echoes Museum. Dale has researched and written over 350 newspaper history stories about Fairbury history and also over 25 books about various aspects of Livingston County history. Dale often gives historical presentations to civic groups in Livingston, Ford, and McLean counties.

This program will livestream on Looking for Lincoln's Facebook page and YouTube Channel. The event is FREE.

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The Presumption of Freedom: The Illinois Supreme Court and the Fate of Slavery in Illinois
Wednesday, May 21, 2025 7:00 PM - 8:00 PM

Though Illinois entered the Union as a free state in 1818, slavery continued to exist within its borders for decades. Freedom seekers, abolitionists, and pro-slavery forces turned to the judicial system to determine the fate of slavery in Illinois. This talk will highlight several of the nearly two dozen slave cases that reached the Illinois Supreme Court and examine the Court’s role in ending slavery in the Prairie State.

John Lupton, Executive Director, Illinois Supreme Court Historic Preservation Commission. Samuel Wheeler, Director of History Programs, Illinois Supreme Court Historic Preservation Commission.

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Regional Highlight

The Lincoln Depot or Great Western Depot is the place where Abraham Lincoln left Springfield as President elect en route to D.C. On the morning of Feb 11, 1861 Lincoln said his final goodbyes to friends and supporters at the depot before boarding the train. At 8 am Lincoln gave an impromptu speech to a crowd of over 1000 people who had gathered to see him off. You can visit the first floor of the Lincoln depot which offers a self-guided tour.

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