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VANDALIA: FAYETTE COUNTY
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Vandalia: Lincoln History, Downtown Shopping, Eateries Attract Visitors
Madonna of the Trail Statue
tanding in the foyer of the Old State Capitol, one might expect a young Abraham Lincoln to come bounding down the winding staircase after a House of Representatives session. The oldest remaining state capitol building in Illinois is located at the intersection of the National Road (U.S. 40) and U.S. Route 51 in the city of Vandalia. The restored building welcomes visitors who want to experience the early years of Lincoln’s career (1834-1839). Ten Lincoln Wayside Exhibits have been erected. Eight are around the capitol at Rogier Park and at the Old State Cemetery. These storyboards feature little known facts from President Lincoln’s life and times in Vandalia. Visitors may not know that Lincoln proposed to a woman named Mary Owens before he met Mary Todd, or that Lincoln and Stephen Douglas first met here. Also, Lincoln’s first official stand against slavery was in Vandalia. The Vandalia Statehouse is open May through Labor Day, Tuesday through Saturday, 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. and 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. post Labor Day. Located across the street from the Capitol is Lincoln Park, featuring a life-size bronze statue of Abraham Lincoln designed by world-renowned Lincoln sculptor John McClarey. Directly north of the old Capitol is the Fayette County Museum, located in the historic Presbyterian Church built in 1867. The building is on the National Register of Historic Places and houses Lincoln-era memorabilia and artifacts of the people living in the county. Of special interest is an original paper press from the Capitol, and visitors can hold a hand tool traced back to Lincoln that is etched with the initials “A.L.” The museum is open Monday through Saturday, 9:30 a.m. to 4 p.m. One block west on 5th Street, visitors can see the only National Road Interpretive Center in Illinois. The National Road was the first and only totally federally funded road in the country. Here visitors can learn the history of travel and transportation in the early days of the country. The Center reminds visitors that Vandalia was the terminus of the National Road, which began in Baltimore, MD. The Center routinely
WHERE HISTORY LIVES & PROGRESS THRIVES
VISIT HISTORIC
Vandalia, Illinois Looking for Lincoln? You’ll nd him here, where his storied political career began and history abounds. After some adventure? You’ve only to venture toward Vandalia Lake for a host of water and outdoor sports. Whether you’re after browsing boutiques or immersing yourself in culture, you’ll nd the right thread to weave your perfect story right here in Vandalia.
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PAGE 66 | 2022 Discover Visitor & Vacation Guide To Central Illinois
