Macomb

The Macomb Area Conventions and Vistitors Bureau welcomes you to our historic and vibrant city, sometimes known as 'Forgottonia.' As a tourist destination, Forgottonia, IL is hard to beat with it's vibrant mix of unique shopping, arts & entertainment, casual & fine dining, events & attractions and sports & leisure, coupled with fertile fields, historic landmarks, Amish country and rustic small-town charm. All this is set against a backdrop of rural splendor and panoramic pastoral beauty.

If you're considering a family trip, planning an event, or just looking for a perfect weekend getaway, we're the place to Relax, Explore & Enjoy. That's what makes Forgottonia unforgettable.

What is "Forgottonia?"

Variously described as a new U.S. state or an independent republic, Forgottonia is the name given to a 16 county region in West Central Illinois in the late 1960s and early 1970s.  The Republic of Forgottonia eventually became a fictional political secession movement in the early 1970s conceived by McDonough County residents because of a lack of support for transportation and infrastructure projects in the area.  

According to a 2010 article in the McDonough County Voice, “The idea is that we would secede from the Union, immediately declare war, surrender, then apply for foreign aid.” 

Forgottonia never did secede, but the movement succeeded. It drew national attention to the region’s transportation and infrastructure plight. Amtrak brought trains back to the area in 1972 and highways have seen some improvement since Forgottonia put itself on the map.

Set out on an adventure through Macomb on the Looking For Lincoln Self-Guided Tour. This unique attraction allows users to experience 11 significant sites throughout Macomb and McDonough County directly related and pertaining to Abraham Lincoln and his remarkable connection to the community.

Individual markers designate every one of the 11 Macomb Looking For Lincoln sites, which include specific QR codes that direct history seekers to detailed, online information on the particulars of each notable location, featuring in depth history, photos, maps and video of “Abe Lincoln” himself giving “first hand” descriptions of the sites.

The LFL marker tour includes the McDonough County Courthouse, The Randolph House, The Living Lincoln Topiary Monument, Oakwood Cemetery, The Blandin House Museum, The Wm. Painter Pearson Photography Studio site, among others.

The Living Lincoln Topiary Monument is a 15 feet high and 8 feet wide bust of our 16th President, Abraham Lincoln. It’s mixed media construction of durable cast stone and steel features a unique topiary aspect in which the 16th president’s beard consist of real living flowering plants and greenery, making it the only sculpture of its kind in the world!

The monument was designed as the centerpiece of Unforgettable Forgottonia‘s Looking For Lincoln Self-Guided Tour, which illustrates Abraham Lincoln‘s long and significant connection to Macomb and McDonough County.

Siting majestically on Macomb’s City Hall lawn this incredible bust of “Honest Abe” was the concept of artist and WIU professor Duke Oursler. The sculpture was created and constructed by Oursler with the assistance of artist Marc Moulton.

The Macomb Area Convention & Visitors Bureau partnered with Oursler on the project with funding provided by The Macomb Rotary Clubs in recognition of its 2020 centennial anniversary.

The project is managed by MACVB with Macomb Centennial Morning Rotary Club’s and the Macomb Beautiful Association‘s assistance in the maintenance and upkeep of the sculptures topiary aspect.

Located in the Macomb Square on the very Courthouse lawn in which he spoke, the Looking For Lincoln Wayside Exhibit tells the story of then senate candidate Abraham Lincoln’s stays in Macomb. The story is one that illustrates a momentous discussion Lincoln had with Joseph Medill and James Magie at The Randolph House, and the significance it had on Lincoln‘s impending political career and his future in becoming President of the United States.

The historic McDonough County Courthouse is located in the McDonough County seat city of Macomb, in the U.S. state of Illinois.

McDonough County’s first courthouse was built of logs in 1831 and cost $69.50. It was located at the northeast corner of the square. The second courthouse was built in 1835 and stood on the same grounds as the current courthouse.
It was two stories and had a stone foundation, was made of brick with a cupola that sat in the center of the building.

The current courthouse was constructed in 1871. Noted governmental architect Elijah E. Myers designed the building in the Second Empire style and the courthouse is one of the few remaining buildings of its type in the county.

The building houses the County Clerk, Treasurer and State’s Attorney’s Office among others. The courthouse was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1972. In the late 1970s, the county rehabilitated the building to restore its original exterior.

Established in 1830, McDonough County is named for Commodore Thomas McDonough who led a successful battle againt the British on Lake Champlain in the War of 1812.