Ten of the City’s 15 Looking for Lincoln Wayside exhibits have been installed in Downtown Decatur providing visitors with a look inside the City’s link to Abraham Lincoln.

The signs will help both residents and visitors better identify the City’s Lincoln connection in and around the downtown area, boosting tourism as we continue our historic Abraham Lincoln Bicentennial celebration.

Few people know that Decatur has more Lincoln history than any other city in Illinois outside Springfield. It was here that a young Mr. Lincoln and his family first stopped prior to settling just west of Decatur in 1830. It was also here that he practiced law early in his career and made his first political speech at Lincoln Square. Still, just blocks away Abraham Lincoln was nominated for President of the United States and earned the nickname "railsplitter."

Plans are to create a “walking tour” for visitors detailing each stop Mr. Lincoln made during his time in Decatur and Central Illinois.

The signs join an impressive downtown monument honoring African American Civil War soldiers as part of the city’s tribute to its Lincoln heritage. We also host the biannual Abraham Lincoln National Agricultural Awards Program during the Farm Progress show hosted here every two years.

Funding for this round of exhibits was made possible by a grant from the Department of Housing and Urban Development, with strong support from Illinois Senator Dick Durbin in combination with local and private funding sources.

For more information on the City’s Lincoln History Contact Kim Bauer at 424-2779