Decatur

John Hanks was a favorite relation of Lincoln’s through his mother Nancy Hanks’s family.  John moved to Macon County in 1828 and it was his letters to Thomas Lincoln, Abraham’s father, that motivated Thomas to move his family to Illinois in 1830.  Abraham remained close to John and was involved in his political rise.  John died in 1889 at the age of 87 and is buried at Boiling Springs Cemetery.

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.    

Location of the Wigwam, a temporary structure, set up for the 1860 Illinois State Republican Convention.  It was here that Illinois Republican delegates chose Lincoln as their candidate for the Republican presidential nominee.  Less than a week later, at the National Republican Convention, Lincoln was nominated as the 1860 Republican presidential candidate.

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.    

Years after the Lincoln family’s move to Illinois in 1830, Abraham pointed to this site in the old Decatur town square as the place where his family camped their first night in Macon County.

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.    

At the Illinois Republican Convention in 1860, a local photographer, E. A. Barnwell, decided to seek out the “biggest” man among the convention participants.  He found that the biggest man in both stature and importance was Abraham Lincoln.  Lincoln posed for a portrait at Barnwell’s studio.

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.    

The road beside this wayside is West Main Street, one of the main routes upon which Lincoln traveled during his trips on the Eighth Judicial Circuit.  The wayside also recounts the story of how Lincoln took pity and saved a pig from a muddy pit during one of his journeys.

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.