For several years, the wagon had been located in the Divernon/Pawnee area, but recent developments prompted Mr. Bentley to contact the Abraham Lincoln Tourism Bureau about the wagon's purchase. Inspired by idea of having this wonderful tribute to Abe Lincoln located in the namesake community, Executive Director Geoff Ladd set out to make it happen. Mr. Bentley wanted the wagon to be located in a community that was rich in both Abe Lincoln and Route 66 heritage, and Lincoln, Illinois is one of those towns. The Tourism Bureau's website and marketing design is centered around those two features of the county's history.

When fully assembled, the wagon weighs five tons and measures 40 feet long, 12 feet wide, and 24 feet tall. Abe Lincoln, seated in the front reading a book, weighs 350 pounds and measures 12 feet tall. The Railsplitter Covered Wagon was recognized by the Guinness Book of World Records as the World's Largest Covered Wagon.

Address: The wagon is parked at the J & S Auto Centre/Penache Boutique (1006 Woodlawn Road) on the corner of Woodlawn and Route 66 in Lincoln, IL.

Postville
Constructed in 1840, the original building (until 1848) was one of the courts in which Abraham Lincoln argued cases while traveling the historic Eighth Judicial Circuit. Long after being converted to residential use, the original courthouse was purchased by Henry Ford and in 1929 moved to his Dearborn, Michigan, Greenfield Village museum. The grounds currently display a replica that was constructed in 1953 on the original site as part of the city of Lincoln's centennial celebration; it is run by the Illinois Historic Preservation Agency.

Mt. Pulaski
The second courthouse was erected in 1848, when Mt. Pulaski became the county seat and this building is still intact today and is managed by the Illinois Historic Preservation agency. This Greek Revival courthouse stood as the seat of government until 1855 and is one of the few remaining original structures of the Eighth Judicial Circuit and one of only two courthouses remaining in their location, as Lincoln would have seen them.

Lincoln
When Lincoln, Illinois, became the county seat of Logan County in 1856, court did not resume at the Postville Courthouse. Instead, a new courthouse was constructed on the site of the present Logan County Courthouse. The 1856 structure burned April 15, 1857, and was replaced by a courthouse that served until 1903, when construction on the present courthouse began and was finished in 1905. Abraham Lincoln worked in both the 1856 and 1858 courthouses, as well as in the Postville and Mt. Pulaski courthouses.

This Museum contains a remarkable collection of Lincoln related artifacts and documents including gifts of the Beckwith family. Robert Todd Lincoln Beckwith, the last living descendant of Lincoln donated a number of articles belonging to Mary Lincoln – china, books and mourning clothing.

Hundreds of documents relating to Lincoln can also be found at the museum including the original Lincoln town charter drawn up by him, a legal document signed with an “x” by his father and an invitation to the 1865 inaugural ball. In addition, there is correspondence from Lincoln, nearly every member of his cabinet and military leaders during the Civil War. The museum is located on the campus of Lincoln College very near to downtown Lincoln.

Address: 300 Keokuk in McKinstry Library on the Lincoln College Campus	Contact: (217) 732-3155, ext. 295
Hours: Mon - Fri : 9:00 am - 4:00 pm Sat - Sun : 1:00 pm - 4:00pm

This self-guided walking tour begins at the town christening site, located at 101 N. Chicago Street, at the corner of Broadway and Chicago Streets

In August 1853 the first sale of lots in the new town of Lincoln took place near this spot. Abraham Lincoln, in whose honor the town was named, was in attendance. When asked on the day of the land sale to officially "christen the town," Lincoln obliged. Lifting the cover off a pile of watermelons stacked on the ground by a local farmer, Lincoln picked up a melon and conducted a brief ceremony using its juice. Lincoln, Ill., is the only town named for Lincoln before he became president. A Looking for Lincoln Story Trail Wayside tells the tale of “Lincoln’s Lincoln.”

Move on to the Lincoln railroad depot at 101 N. Chicago St. and from here the tour winds its way to the site of the Lincoln House Hotel, Robert Latham home site, Logan County Courthouse at Center of Town Square, Lincoln lot site at 523 Pulaski St., Rustic Inn at 412 Pulaski St., and the Stephen A. Douglas speech site at the comer of Fourth and Logan Streets and more! Find out why these walking tour stops are so important!

www.tourlogancounty.com/walkingtour.html

Hours: 24 Hours