Tim Guinan
President
Bob Brauer
Vice President
Ben KininghamTreasurer
Deann Shelabarger
Membership Chairman
Shirley McCombs
Membership Committee
Dick Moss
Membership Committee
Gail Adamski
Secretary
Andy Maxson
Executive Director
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| Fill your schedule with a broad selection of historical and fun attractions within Menard County. From the home of Edgar Lee Masters to Theater in the Park to the scores of Lincloln Historical locations. |
Edgar Lee Masters Memorial Museum
Edgar Lee Masters Home
Eighth & Jackson
Petersburg, Illinois
Open from 10:00 a.m. to 12 noon and 1:00 to 3:00 p.m. Tues., Thurs.-Sat. Memorial Day through Labor Day.
In memory of American poet Edgar Lee Masters, author of The Spoon River Anthology, the memorabilia of his life and works are displayed in the house where he lived as a young boy.
Facts about Edgar Lee Masters
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Born in Garnett, Kansas on Aug 23, 1868 while his parents were homesteading
- Son of Hardin W. Masters and Emma Dexter
- Early childhood near Petersburg, Illinois
- Moved to Lewistown, Fulton Co., Illinois at age 12
- Poet and author
- Spent adult life primarily in Chicago, Illinois
- Died in 1950, buried in Oakland Cemetery, Petersburg, Menard County, Illinois
The Spoon River Anthology - by Edgar Lee Masters
The original work was published as a serialized version in 1914-15. In the Anthology, the dead in an Illinois graveyard relay, in matter-of-fact but haunting tones, details from their lives. The Anthology was original, provocative and influentual. Its literary significance has been compared with Walt Whitman's Leaves of Grass [published in 1855].Masters wove a thread of partial reality throughout the Anthology. Many of the characters and their experiences can be identified with former residents of Lewistown and Petersburg, Illinois. Masters' used his childhood experiences in these two communities, as a basis for the poems. |
- Edgar Lee Masters
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Starhill Forest Arboretum
12000 Boy Scout Trail
Petersburg, Illinois
Hours: Guided tours are offered by appointment; various presentations and workshops on trees may be arranged for your group of any English-speaking nation.
Visit starhillforest.com
Located on 48 acres in southern Menard County, IL, Starhill Forest is a private arboretum owned and operated by the Sternberg family since 1976. The land has been farmed and grazed since the mid-19th century, when Abraham Lincoln traveled on the same road during his New Salem days.
Old trees in the forested areas date to about 1850, and the oldest planted trees were started from seed in 1964 and transplanted from another location. Permanent records kept by Starhill Forest include provenance information, propagation method and year, mapped location within the arboretum via a surveyed grid system, and other data. In addition, permanent records of other taxa that have been tested and have not survived include cause of death, when known.
The primary scientific collection is a quercetum (oak) comprising the living reference collection recognized by the North American Plant Preservation Council. Additionally, approximately 150 other genera of woody plants are available for study, as well as herb and perennial landscapes, a native prairie garden, several provenance tests, and a conifer plantation. |
Starhill Forest is the official Arboretum of Illinois College, the oldest college in Illinois.
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Lincoln's New Salem State Historic Site
15588 History Lane
Petersburg, Illinois
217.632.4000
Hours of Operation
March 1st -- Oct. 31st:
Open Wednesday through Sunday 9 – 5
Nov. 1st -- End of February:
Open Wednesday through Sunday 8 – 4
Hours change periodically, you are encouraged to call ahead 217-632-4000
subject to change, please call before planning
Visitlincolnsnewsalem.com
Located 2 miles South of Petersburg and about 20 miles Northwest of Springfield, is a reconstruction of the village where Abraham Lincoln spent his early adulthood. The six years Lincoln spent in New Salem formed a turning point in his career. Although he never owned a home here, Lincoln was engaged in a variety of activities while he was at New Salem. He clerked in a store, split rails, enlisted in the Black Hawk War, served as postmaster and deputy surveyor, failed in business, and was elected to the Illinois General Assembly in 1834 and 1836 after an unsuccessful try in 1832.
- Take an online virtual tour of each individual building on the website of Lincoln's New Salem at lincolnsnewsalem.com.
Twelve log houses, the Rutledge Tavern, ten workshops, stores, mills and a school where church services were held have been reproduced and furnished as they might have been in the 1830s. The furnishings, including many articles actually used by the New Salem people of Lincoln's time and others dating back to the same time period, were assembled and donated to the state by the Old Salem Lincoln League. The collection includes such early-nineteenth-century articles as wheat cradles, candle molds, cord beds, flax hackles, wood cards, dough and cornmeal chests and early American pewter. |
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Historical Trolley Tours
15588 History Lane
Petersburg, Illinois
217.632.7876
Visit Stiertrolleyexpress.com
Hop on board Menard County’s newest attraction, The Stier's Trolley Express at Lincoln’s New Salem State Historic Site. While leisurely viewing Menard County’s historic sites, listen to a narrative by Menard County resident & professional newscaster, Ben Kinningham, describing what life was like during Lincoln’s time while he lived and worked at New Salem. Hear why the village of New Salem vanished shortly after Lincoln moved to Springfield and where many of its famous village residents re-located.
Learn about Lincoln’s flat boat ride on the Sangamon River. Enjoy the trolley ride past the Sangamon River Valley while viewing the site of one of the nation’s largest and best-attended Chautauquas. Find out about Oakland Cemetery where Lincoln’s close friend, Ann Rutledge and famous author Edgar Lee Masters are buried. Nearby, in the historic town of Petersburg, take a look at lovely Victorian homes, including the Hamilton home, the Caleb Barrett Laning home; “Edgewood”, home of Thompson Ware McNeely; the boyhood home of Edgar Lee Masters, and many more.
Hear about how the town of Petersburg got its name by playing a game of “Old Sledge” or “Seven Up” and how the Menard County racing quarter horse Peter McCue set a speed record that has never been broken, this, despite suffering an injury while young. While hearing about the many attractions in Menard County and looking at the attractions through the windows of the trolley, visitors can also view an on-board slide presentation that features many of the other attractions and businesses in and around Menard County..
You may choose to disembark the trolley at the Historic Menard County Courthouse Square to eat at a fine restaurant and shop at the many gift and antique shops. While there, tour the Historic Menard County Courthouse and enjoy the Looking for Lincoln storyboard which describing Lincoln’s job as Land Surveyor. Don’t worry, the trolley will return to pick you up. |
Join us. Trolley back in time to experience the nostalgia of historic Menard County during Lincoln’s time and later. |
Abraham Lincoln Long Nine Museum
200 S. Main Street
P.O. Box 362
Athens, Illinois
217.636.7553
Museum Hours
June 1- September 1,
Business hours: Tuesday-Saturday 1-5 PM
Closed July 4.
With a confirmed appointment, other hours are available.
Still standing is the original building that Abraham Lincoln visited on many occasions in his travels between New Salem and Springfield. Abraham Lincoln and his dedicated cadre of eight other Illinois legislators had won the General Assembly's approval to move the state capital from Vandalia to Springfield. The nine men were called the "long nine" because they averaged over 6 feet in height, uncommon in that day and age. On August 3, 1837, the "long nine" members were honored at a banquet. This banquet was held upstairs in the same building that stands at 200 S. Main Street in historic Athens, Illinois. During the time Lincoln lived in New Salem now know as Lincoln's New Salem Historic Site, he traveled between New Salem Village and Springfield. It was the shortest most direct route.
During Lincoln's visits to the general store and post office, he would stop by the home of Col. Rogers to borrow books. The Rogers' home fireplace is on display in the basement area. The upper room was used as a banquet and meeting room by the citizens of Athens.
The building now houses an audio narrated diorama tour telling about Abraham Lincoln and the Long Nine. Each diorama adds dimension that brings to life the lessons learned in childhood history classes. Viewers learn about each scene with the touch of a button! After Lincoln became New Salem's Postmaster, he would pick up mail when passing through Athens on trips to and from Springfield, not yet our state's capitol city. The shortest path to Springfield from New Salem passed through Athens. In 1834, the postmaster had also became a skilled surveyor, and he surveyed the Post Road which passed by the front of Rogers' general store and post office. the survey point Lincoln used, still remains today, just 40 feet from the building.
The museum also features the Talking Building. From your car radio, you can listen to the building tell about itself, and its history. It's a unique experience you shouldn't miss.
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Visit
a-lincoln-long-nine.com
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Menard County Historical Society Museum
Menard County Land Surveying Museum
125 S 7th Street,
Petersburg, Illinois
217.632.7363
Museum Hours
September-April - Tuesday - Friday 9AM-1PM
Memorial Day-Labor Day
Tuesday - Friday - 9AM-4PM
Admission is free
The Menard County Historical Society maintains a museum and archives in the former Frackelton Bank. Built in 1889 on the corner of Seventh & Jackson in Petersburg, Illinois, this lovely Victorian-styled building is on the west side of the Menard County Courthouse Square across the street from the Menard County Courthouse.
The Historical Society’s Museum is home to valuable books, pictures, genealogy materials, historic displays, circus memorabilia, and other artifacts pertaining to Menard County.
The building also houses the Illinois Professional Land Surveyors Association’s Museum of Land Surveying. The land surveying displays include instruments that tell the early history of land surveying, including instruments similar to those used by Deputy County Surveyor Abraham Lincoln in 1836 when he surveyed the town of Petersburg. |
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Alpacas of Indian Point
Petersburg, Illinois
217.632.2590 or 217-414-0266
Visit
alpacasofindianpointhills.com
This is a family run farm dedicated to educating people about Alpacas. Alpacas are members of the camel family and are native to South America. They are a gentle inquisitive animal and communicate by humming. They are fun to watch and interact with. The family takes part in many alpaca oriented events throughout the year. The Leinberger family welcomes farm visits and tours by appointment. |
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The Farm
21648 Old Farm Ave.
Petersburg, Ill.
217.632-2888
Visit
The Farm
You are invited to take a break in the country to enjoy over 20 themed gardens covering the size of a football field. The kids will enjoy visiting with Goliath the Clydesdale, Dolly the llama, and a coop full of chickens. Group tours of the property are available, along with picnics, bonfires, and hayrides. You'll walk through the barn gift shop to get to the gardens, and can view many antiques on display. Open from March through December, the place is always changing with the seasons. It's worth the drive down the small road to the bluffs overlooking the Sangamon River.
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