Discover 9 hidden attractions, cool sights, and unusual things to do in Lincoln (United States). Don't miss out on these must-see attractions: Lincoln Speedway, Allen Chapel African Methodist Episcopal Church, and Postville Courthouse State Historic Site. Also, be sure to include Lincoln Public Library in your itinerary.
Below, you can find the list of the most amazing places you should visit in Lincoln (Illinois).
Table of Contents
Lincoln Speedway
Car racing track in Lincoln, Illinois. Lincoln Speedway, located in Lincoln, Illinois on the Logan County Fairgrounds, is a 1/4 mile dirt race track that opened in 2004. Lincoln Speedway races on Friday nights. After running races sanctioning by the United Midwestern Promoters, it switched to DIRTcar sanction.
In 2007 Lincoln Speedway hosted events for World of Outlaws Late Model Series and UMP Summernationals as well as their local racing series'. 2008 will see more of the same from both sanctioning bodies, as well as full-time sanctioning from United Midwestern Promoters. In 2008, Lincoln Speedway acquired their very own 2-seat Late Model, and offer rides in it after the racing program is finished. Lincoln Speedway's season opening race for 2011 is Friday, April 8, and the speedway will also hold a NASCAR Night on Tuesday, June 14 for the first time ever. The track was scheduled to be the first co-sanctioned event with the World of Outlaws Late Models and UMP Hell Tour in July 2016 but it rained out.
Thursday, September 3, 2015 Lincoln Speedway become operated by Bob Sargent's Track Enterprises, which also manages Macon Speedway. The previous 2 seasons had been run by Ken Dobson of CILTRAK, which promoted Quincy Raceways and Jacksonville Speedway at the time. He still runs Jacksonville today.[1]
Address: 11th and Jefferson St, 62656 Lincoln
Allen Chapel African Methodist Episcopal Church
Historical landmark in Lincoln, Illinois. Allen Chapel African Methodist Episcopal Church is an African Methodist Episcopal church located at 902 Broadway in Lincoln, Illinois. The church was built in 1880 to house Lincoln's African Methodist Episcopal congregation, which formed in 1868. The building has a vernacular design with Gothic arched windows and entrances. As a black church, Allen Chapel served as a center of Lincoln's small African-American community. The church hosted the community's religious and social events, and as an AME church it provided AME publications to and helped educate its members. As Lincoln was both segregated and predominantly white for much of the church's early history, the church played an important role as one of the few organizations dedicated to improving the lives of the city's black residents. The church is still used for religious services.
The church was added to the National Register of Historic Places on May 12, 2004.[2]
Address: 910 Broadway St, 62656-2906 Lincoln
Postville Courthouse State Historic Site
Courthouse. The Postville Courthouse State Historic Site is a replica county courthouse in Lincoln, Illinois, United States. The original frame courthouse was built in 1840 and later moved to Greenfield Village in Michigan; the current courthouse, which is a close replica of the first, was built in 1953. The building's unusual history is derived from its status as one of the courthouses used by lawyer Abraham Lincoln as he traveled the circuit of courtrooms in central Illinois. The courthouse replica is operated by the Illinois Historic Preservation Agency.[3]
Address: 914 5th St, 62656-2308 Lincoln
Lincoln Public Library
Public library in Lincoln, Illinois. The Lincoln Public Library is a Carnegie library located at 725 Pekin St. in Lincoln, Illinois. Built in 1902, the library was funded by a $25,000 grant from the Carnegie Foundation. Chicago architect W. A. Otis designed the library in the Classical Revival style. The building's design features an entrance portico, a raised first floor, a Tuscan cornice, stone decorations, and a red tile roof. The portico includes four Tuscan columns, a pediment with its own cornice, a plinth, and acanthus decorations, and an oak double door with another cornice and an overhead window. The library has been continuously used since its opening.
The library was added to the National Register of Historic Places on September 12, 1980.[4]
Address: 725 Pekin St, 62656 Lincoln
Lincoln Courthouse Square Historic District
Historical landmark in Lincoln, Illinois. The Lincoln Courthouse Square Historic District is located in Lincoln, Illinois in Logan County. The district is roughly bounded by Sangamon, Pekin, Chicago, Delavan, Broadway, and Pulaski Streets. The district includes 112 buildings, 89 of which are contributing buildings.
The Logan County Courthouse and the surrounding courthouse square are included in the district, and much of the surrounding business district was built around the courthouse. The courthouse was built in 1854, the year after Lincoln was platted. Other government buildings in the district include the Lincoln city hall, the public library, and the post office.
The early commercial buildings in the district are mainly brick Italianate structures. After 1900, buildings in a number of other styles were added to the district. The Scully Building is one of the more significant commercial buildings in the district; the Richardsonian Romanesque building served as the headquarters of Scully Estate Holdings, a major real estate company dealing in farmland.
The district was added to the National Register of Historic Places on December 24, 1985.[5]
Lincoln Community Theatre
Concerts and shows, Theater
Address: Lincoln College, Lincoln
Hoblit House
Heritage building in Lincoln, Illinois. The Hoblit House is a historic house located at 505 N. College Ave. in Lincoln, Illinois. The house was constructed in 1874 for Harrison and Matilda Schuler. Architect George W. Gale designed the house in the Italianate style. The design features an asymmetrical cruciform plan, tall, narrow arched windows, a cornice with decorative bracketing, and quoins at the corners. In 1882, Frank Hoblit, a prominent Logan County banker, bought the house, which he occupied until his 1914 death.
The house was added to the National Register of Historic Places on May 22, 2007.[6]
Stephan A. Foley House
Building in Lincoln, Illinois. The Stephan A. Foley House is a historic house located at 427 Tremont St. in Lincoln, Illinois. The house was built in 1898 for Stephan A. Foley, a county judge and prominent local philanthropist. Architect W. A. Otis likely designed the house, a Queen Anne home with Colonial Revival details. The house's irregular shape and its porches and bays are typical of Queen Anne buildings. Colonial Revival elements of the house include its gambrel roofs, Palladian windows, swans neck pediments, and quoins on the corners.
The house was added to the National Register of Historic Places on May 3, 1984.[7]
University Hall
Building in Lincoln, Illinois. University Hall is a building on the campus of Lincoln College in Lincoln. Built from 1865 to 1866, the building was the first constructed on the campus of the college, then known as Lincoln University. The college was founded by the Cumberland Presbyterian Church and was at the time one of the few religiously affiliated schools in the North. University Hall was designed in a Tuscan-influenced Italianate style and features a four-sided cupola and a cornice with dentils and corbels. The building now houses the school's administrative offices.
University Hall was added to the National Register of Historic Places on April 24, 1973.[8]