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By the way, did you know?
In the summer of 1826, Abraham went down to the Ohio River at a point where Anderson Creek emptied into the mighty river. He would often be in the area during the summer months. Opportunities for gainful employment was the business at hand but Abe was always amazed at the volume of river traffic. He observed vessels of all types and sizes, strings of flatboats, houseboats, ark like vessels, small craft, and large and small steamboats. He came up with the idea of a small startup business. Abraham from the age of 6 years had been using an ax to clear land, split rails and chop cord wood. For over a…
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By the way, did you know?
By Jim Farris In this new monthly blog post produced by the Friends of Lincoln Trail Homestead State Park and Memorial to share little or unknown facts about Abraham Lincoln, his family and his activities while living in Macon County in Illinois. These short facts will be sent out the first day of each month. In 1915, fifty years after President Abraham Lincoln’s assassination, the Illinois General Assembly authorized the State Historical Library to mark the route traveled by the Thomas Lincoln Family from their homestead in Indiana to the place where they would settle in Illinois. It would be another 50 years before the trail opened in 1963. Thousands of markers…
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Charlotte & Dan Brady Nature Preserve
The Land Conservation Foundation has great news to announce! On January 26, the Illinois Nature Preserves Commission gave final approval for the dedication of our Brady Woods property in western Champaign County as a Nature Preserve. Dedicating land as a Nature Preserve is the greatest protection land can be granted in Illinois. Brady Woods protects a biologically diverse stretch of the Sangamon River and associated forest. The preserve is on the Illinois Natural Areas Inventory for outstanding aquatic resources, especially freshwater mussels. It is now the Charlotte and Dan Brady Woods Nature Preserve. Join us in celebrating this exciting accomplishment. Brady Woods is a showcase for spring wildflowers—bluebells in particular,…
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Celebrate Mudpuppy Day January 30
Our popular Mudpuppy Festival is on hold this year, but we’re still honoring the Sangamon River’s coolest creature! The city of Monticello has proclaimed Saturday, January 30, as Mudpuppy Day. To celebrate, our new Kids page offers fun family activities, including Scavenger Hunt Bingo for our Bruce Hannon Levee Trail, and a beautiful coloring book, Mandy’s Prairie Home.
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Lincoln Trail Homestead State & Memorial is Open!
Lincoln Trail Homestead State Park and Memorial is open for all to visit and enjoy We hope you will see the difference the removal of honeysuckle has made to the park as well as the new handicapped accessible toilet. We are reminding everyone the guidelines that IDNR has issued:-Park hours are 8:30 am to 10 pm.-Please carry all items out that were carried in. We want to limit contact with refuse as much as possible.-The pavilions are going to remain closed until further notice (both will be roped off prior to opening).-The playgrounds are going to remain closed until further notice (both will be roped off prior to opening).-Gatherings of more than 10…
