8 Historic Lincoln Sites Along Route 66

8

Historic Lincoln Sites Along Route 66

Discover Lincoln’s Legacy In Pontiac

Long before the Mother Road The First Hundred Miles Of Route 66 has quite a history, from the development of the Mother Road to carrying some of our most prestigious figures well before the road was named, none more famous than Illinois own President Abraham Lincoln. Discover the future president’s early days as a young Illinois Circuit Court lawyer in beautiful Pontiac, Illinois.

 YOUNG LINCOLN STATUE Washington and Mill Streets South of Courthouse This Lincoln statue depicts the young attorney during his employment as a county circuit court litigator at the young age of 31. Resting against a split-rail fence is reminiscent of the labor he endured as a young man growing up on the Illinois prairie.

 FELL PARK 200 Block North Vermillion Street Jessie Fell, friend of Lincoln and a true pioneer, was instrumental in the development of the city and county, even the naming of Pontiac after the distinguished Indian Chief. Donating the land for the city park and even having a hand in the naming of some streets, Jessie Fell was truly a visionary for his time.  COUNTY SEAT ALMOST MOVED South Side Courthouse Square Not producing a courthouse as promised back in 1839 resulted in a vote to move the county seat to another location ‘upriver’ as the city of Pontiac was an ‘unhealthy locality, being low and swampy’ as descenders argued. The Lincoln and Pontiac connection would have never been if it were not for Lincoln’s friend, Jessie Fell who led the charge to produce the much needed and promised structure. Although the vote to move was 81 to 56, it failed to meet the two-thirds majority needed and the rest is history!

 LIVINGSTON COUNTY COURTHOUSE Washington and Mill Streets South of Courthouse Recently undergoing a multi-million-dollar renovation, this county seat saw the likes of both Lincoln and Douglas as practicing

attorneys but never in this building. Erected 10 years after Lincoln's death, it remains the site of where he walked as a working man in his 30s. Little did both men know that they would meet again as adversaries in 1860s Lincoln-Douglas Debates. Open daily except for Saturdays.

 LINCOLN SLEPT HERE West Side Mill Street at Mill Street Bridge To commemorate where Lincoln slept, Pontiac has made sure to provide visitors with a landmark and wayside exhibit marking the historical spot. Walking distance from the county courthouse, these cabins hid amongst the ‘clumps of bushes that were rendered almost invisible’ but provided a convenient location for Lincoln and his activities back in May of 1840.  LINCOLN WINS COUNTY’S 1ST

LAWSUIT

200 Block North Chicago St This ‘Looking For Lincoln’ Wayside Exhibit marks the spot where ‘the first jury trial in all of Livingston county’ we find Lincoln facing off with his future adversary Douglas in a defamation of character case. Held in a log cabin, Lincoln prevails for his client accused of stealing meat; however the $2,000 award is greatly reduced.

 LINCOLN STRANDED HERE -

COUNTY MARKET GROCERY

200 North Oak St One of the worst snowstorms in the history of the area was recorded in February 1855, stopping all activities including a train bound for Springfield and housing none other than Abraham Lincoln. With roads blockaded, a rescue party was formed to recover the freezing passengers. Lincoln was among the group that was housed at John McGregor’s who refused Lincoln's offer of payment for his keep. It is said upon his departure, Lincoln gave McGregor’s two daughters a gold coin each of ‘which they did not refuse.’ Wayside Exhibit and Historical Marker.  RIVERBANK DEBATE SITE East Side Mill St at The Mill St Bridge While trying the first ever jury trial in Livingston County in May of 1840, Lincoln and Douglas carried their differences out into the street with an impromptu debate at this site. A precursor of the senate debates which would come to fruition some eighteen years later, both stood riverside in this same spot atop a dry goods box for all to see.