Lincoln in Quincy
The Quincy area holds a hefty chunk of Civil War history in the “Land of Lincoln”, and is one of six cities in the Abraham Lincoln National Heritage Area designated a Gateway Community. These gateway sites serve as entry points to the National Heritage Area and introduce visitors to local and regional Lincoln stories. The other Illinois Gateway Communities consist of Alton, Springfield, Bloomington, Danville, and Charleston. {lookingforlincoln.com}
Learn about Lincoln in Quincy in the Lincoln in Quincy Guide which incorporates all of Quincy’s Lincoln-significant sites in one easy piece. It includes the Lincoln Heritage Trail to 18 Wayside Exhibits, sample itinerary, map and “Rubbing Pages” to create your own souvenir of the Trail. Request or download your copy. 800.978.4748 | LINCOLN IN QUINCY GUIDE
Below is a fast-fact timeline followed by a summary of the Civil War Era in Quincy. Scroll to the bottom of thepage to see some fun snapshots of “Mini Abe” while on his summer vacation to the Quincy area.
1819 Illinois entered the Union as a free state
1824 Quincy founder John Wood successfully fought to prevent Illinois from becoming a slave state
1835 Abolitionist Dr. Richard Eells built his home and sheltered runaway slaves from Missouri
1858 Quincy hosted the Sixth Senatorial Lincoln-Douglas Debate
1860 John Wood became the 12th Governor of Illinois
1886 Quincy was selected as the location for Illinois’ first Veteran’s Home
The divide over slavery climaxed in 1858 when Quincy hosted the sixth Senatorial Debate by U.S. Senator Stephen A. Douglas and his challenger, Abraham Lincoln. With an estimated crowd of 12,000 in attendance, Quincy was the largest community at which Lincoln and Douglas debated.