Current News

Looking for Lincoln Recieves Award from the AASLH
Monday, September 15, 2025
The Looking for Lincoln Heritage Coalition is proud to be the recipient of the Award of Excellence from the American Association for State and Local History (AASLH) for our traveling exhibit, ‘Journey to Freedom: Illinois’ Underground Railroad.’

Union Pacific Brings Lincoln Locomotive to Springfield, IL July 1
Tuesday, June 24, 2025
Union Pacific will bring its Abraham Lincoln Locomotive to Springfield Illinois on July 1, to note the railroad’s 163rd birthday.

Movie Premiere June 22: ‘The Underground Railroad in Metamora’
Monday, May 26, 2025
The Metamora Association for Historic Preservation is proud to host a movie premier about the Underground Railroad in Metamora on June 22, 2025 at 3:00 pm.
Upcoming Events

Journey to Freedom: Illinois’ Underground Railroad Exhibit - Lincoln Log Cabin Site
Saturday, August 2, 2025 - Tuesday, November 11, 2025
Looking for Lincoln presents the travelling exhibit, Journey to Freedom Illinois’ Underground Railroad. The courageous stories of freedom seekers, and the multi-racial conductors who assisted them, are highlighted in this new exhibit about the Underground Railroad in Illinois. Learn about the network of people, who often at great risk to themselves, collaborated to assist those searching for freedom and dignity.

Journey to Freedom: Illinois’ Underground Railroad Exhibit- Lincoln Heritage Museum
Tuesday, September 2, 2025 - Thursday, October 30, 2025
Looking for Lincoln presents the travelling exhibit, Journey to Freedom Illinois’ Underground Railroad. The courageous stories of freedom seekers, and the multi-racial conductors who assisted them, are highlighted in this new exhibit about the Underground Railroad in Illinois. Learn about the network of people, who often at great risk to themselves, collaborated to assist those searching for freedom and dignity.

HARVEST FROLIC
Saturday, September 27, 2025 - Sunday, September 28, 2025
Come celebrate the arrival of autumn at the Harvest Frolic. The event is free and open to the public. Don’t miss experiencing 19th-century life on the farm. Activities will take place at both the Lincoln and Sargent farms and will include children’s games, crafts, hearth cooking, and activities. A number of artisans will be on site demonstrating their crafts including, spinning, pottery, broom making, blacksmithing, embroidery, and many other 19th-century crafts.

Regional Highlight
On August 27, 1853, Abraham Lincoln christened the new community of Lincoln Illinois with juice from a watermelon. The town was formed in 1853 when a new community was developed along the Chicago and Alton Railroad and was the first town named after Abraham Lincoln. Today you can visit the christening site marked by a watermelon statue located on the South lawn of the Historic Train Depot in downtown Lincoln, Illinois.