J. H. Hawes Elevator - 4 Things to Know Before Visiting

The Lincoln Heritage Museum situated in the city of Lincoln, the museum houses an impressive collection of artifacts related to Abraham Lincoln and his life. Visitors can explore a variety of exhibits that focus on Lincoln’s impact on American history—including the Embalmed Body Exhibit which contains actual items from his funeral in 1865. The museum also features a permanent collection featuring significant moments from his presidency and various other milestones.

The Postville Courthouse State Historic Site is a place of history and beauty. Built in 1840, the courtroom is well-preserved and represents a reminder of our country’s legal past. The courthouse held public trials, jury deliberations, hearings, as well as political speeches and other important town meetings during its 129 year tenure. Tourists can stand in the room where Abraham Lincoln attended court sessions and see how it played an important part of Illinois' history.

Mount Pulaski Courthouse State Historic Site preserves a 19th Century courthouse building. This stately Greek-Revival building served as the county seat of Logan County from 1848 until 1855 and still stands today much as it did when Abraham Lincoln once argued cases here as an attorney in the 1840s. It contains two courtroom chambers along with office spaces that are preserved demonstrating how local government was conducted in an earlier time.

The 3rd Sunday Market is a great place for a variety of activities and fun. Every month, dozens of vendors come to the market to showcase their homemade goods and wares that shoppers can take home. There are also food vendors offering delicious treats such as farm-fresh items, homemade jams and jellies, specialty coffees, soups and other lunchtime offerings. The market is open on the third Sunday of each month from 10am-2pm and features live music.

Miller Park Zoo, is a great place for families to explore and discover a variety of wildlife. The zoo contains more than 50 species of animals and birds, including rarer creatures such as red pandas and nilgai antelope. The animal enclosures are large and range from wooded areas to prairies. From the prairie house you can watch prairie dogs scurrying around their burrows and see white-tail deer up close.

Weldon Springs State Park is a nature lover's paradise. Spanning over 1,550 acres of forests, rivers and marshlands, it offers an incredible amount of natural beauty for visitors to explore. The park includes a public beach and pool as well as recreational opportunities such as fishing, canoeing and birdwatching. With 15 miles of trails, adventurers can take peaceful walks in the woods or challenge themselves with more advanced hikes on steep terrain.