Mount Pulaski Courthouse State Historic Site, Illinois

What it is

The building is a Greek Revival courthouse, now a state historic site run by the state's historic preservation agency. Inside, the county offices and the courtroom have been recreated to show how they looked when the building was in use, and visits are by guided tour. The courthouse is also listed on the National Register.

A bit of history

Mount Pulaski was the seat of Logan County for seven years, from 1848 to 1855, and this courthouse served the county in that time. It belonged to the Eighth Circuit, the round of central Illinois courts where Lincoln handled a large share of his cases as a traveling lawyer. Only two courthouses from that circuit survive, which makes this one a rare, tangible link to his years practicing law before the presidency. The site suits anyone following Lincoln's footsteps through central Illinois.

Visiting tips

Plan about an hour, including the guided tour. Tours are led by staff, so arrive with time to join one rather than expecting a quick walk-through on your own. The building is wheelchair accessible. There is a pizza place about 0.1 mile away and a gas station about 0.5 mile off, handy for a break in a small town.

The Theodore H. O. Mattfeldt House is about 0.1 mile away, an easy look on foot. For a fuller Lincoln-themed day, the Lincoln Courthouse Square Historic District is about 10.4 miles off, and the Edward R. Madigan State Fish and Wildlife Area about 9.3 miles away offers a walk by Salt Creek.