During his years as a lawyer riding the 8th Judicial Circuit, Lincoln made many friends as he traveled from courthouse to courthouse. These friends would plan an enormous role in Lincoln’s life as a lawyer and a successful politician. He made many of those connections right here in Mt. Pulaski. A small rural community in the heart of Illinois, Mt. Pulaski boasts a charming town square whose crown jewel is a beautiful red brick Greek Revival building that was the courthouse where Lincoln spent much of his time here. In addition to the courthouse, you’ll also find the Mt. Pulaski Museum and Welcome Center, as well as several quaint shops and restaurants. A trip to Mt. Pulaski is a chance to get off the interstate and explore the landscape that Lincoln the lawyer traveled throughout central Illinois.
For more information:
Mt. Pulaski Visitor Center
104 E. Cooke St.
Mt. Pulaski, Illinois 62548
217-792-3719
https://destinationlogancountyil.com/explore-our-towns/mount-pulaski
Location
Legend
8th Judicial Circuit
Courthouse
Friends of Lincoln
Good for Kids
Guided/Self-Guided Tours
Historic House
Historic Site
Lincoln-Douglas Debate
Museum
Passport Site
Recreational
Route 66
Top Destination
Underground Railroad
Visitor Information
Wayside Exhibit
Nearby Sites
Mt. Pulaski Historical Museum & Visitor Center
104 E. Cooke St. Mt. Pulaski, Illinois 62548
A great first stop is the Mt.Pulaski Historical Museum and Visitor Center. The museum has a variety of displays that tell the town's history from 1836 till today. As you walk through the first floor you will see items such as a 19th-century buggy, military uniforms that date back to the Civil War, and even the guestbook from the Mt. Pulaski House Hotel when William McKinley, Grover Cleveland, Teddy Roosevelt, and John D. Rockefeller stayed for the 1900 Republican Rally. One of the rooms used to be home to the First National Bank and still has the original teller booths and bank vault. This building is also home to the Genealogical Center of Mt. Pulaski.
Mount Pulaski Courthouse
113 S. Washington St. Mt. Pulaski, Illinois 62548
Mount Pulaski Courthouse was built in 1848 and served as the Logan County seat of government until 1855. Attorney Abraham Lincoln regularly argued cases in the second-floor courtroom, helping to establish his reputation as both an accomplished practitioner of the law and a gifted speaker. After the county seat was moved to Lincoln in 1855, the former courthouse was used as a city hall, school, and post office. In 1935 the state purchased the building and began efforts to “restore” it to an 1850s appearance.
Mount Pulaski's Lincoln
113 S. Washington St. Mt. Pulaski, Illinois 62548
Looking for Lincoln wayside exhibits tell the stories of Lincoln’s life and times in Illinois. Each wayside exhibit tells a unique Lincoln story and a local story. Many of the waysides share little known stories about Lincoln and the individuals he interacted with. There are over 260 Looking for Lincoln waysides in the Abraham Lincoln National Heritage Area.
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