Visitors Guide to Attractions
Pike County, Illinois
Abraham Lincoln spent a good deal of time in Pike County prior to his election as President. There are probably more houses associated with Lincoln in Pittsfield that any other city in the state and the city has put together a unique Talking Houses of homes and sites associated with him. There are also a number of small historical museums that preserve the heritage of the small rural communities of the county. Lake Pittsfield offers a wide variety of activities such as boating, fishing, picnicking, camping, and the park hiking and biking trails.
Abraham Lincoln’s Talking Houses Tour
Pittsfield, IL
Simply tune your radio to the AM station listed on the house markers and begin the self guided tour of eleven homes with Abraham Lincoln significance in Pittsfield. The first home on the tour is at the northeast corner of West and Washington Streets. Each home has a yard plaque to depict the home’s history associated with Lincoln. For a copy of the self-guided brochure visit the Pike County Visitors Center at 224 W. Washington Street in Pittsfield or the Bureau’s Office at 3rd and York Streets in Quincy.
Lake Pittsfield
Pittsfield, IL
This 200-acre lake and 480-acre recreational park offers boating, fishing, RV and primitive camping, hiking, picnicking, tennis, softball, soccer, playground equipment and shelters. Camping is equipped with treated drinking water, electrical hookups, lighted areas and a trailer dumping station. Don’t miss the Lincoln Days Civil War Re-enactment held the first week each June.
New Philadelphia Town Site
Barry, IL
The New Philadelphia Town Site is the original site of the now-vanished town of New Philadelphia, Illinois. Platted in 1836, it was the first town in the United States founded by an African-American. The site is now used for archeological studies and is a National Historic Landmark.
Pike County All Wars Museum
Pittsfield, IL
The focus of the Pike County All Wars Museum is simple: Honor all the veterans who served and made sacrifices to protect liberty, prosperity, and peace for all, especially those from Pike County. to achieve this goal the museum has assembled artifacts going back to the Civil War.
Pike County Historic Museum
Pittsfield, IL
The 19th century East Ward school was renovated in 1978 when it became the home of the Pike County Historical Society and the Pike County Historic Museum. The museum has memorabilia such as a dray wagon, printing press, wedding dresses, furniture and dishes. There are some local histories, photographs, and documents available for historical research.
Pike County Visitors Center
Pittsfield, IL
Located in Pittsfield's community center, the Pike County Visitors Center hosts a multitude of information for all of Pike County regarding events, businesses, activities, attractions, etc. A 24-hour foyer is available with information, brochures, and Pike County Visitors Guides. The Visitors Center is open Monday - Friday from 9 am - 12 pm and 1 pm - 5 pm.
Vin Fiz Highway & Marker
Nebo, IL
In September 1911 Calbraith “Cal” Rodgers piloted a Wright Model B airplane on the first transcontinental flight. The flight was a promotional stunt for Armour Company’s soft drink “Vin Fiz,” a popular soft drink at the time. Forty-nine days, sixty-nine landings, and fifteen crashes later Rodgers arrived in Pasadena, CA. Nebo was one of the stops along the way when Rodgers landed here on October 10.
Nearby Attractions
Lee County, Iowa
There is a wide range of attractions for visitors to Lee County, ranging from historical sites such as Old Fort Madison and the George M. Verity River Museum to the scenic views atop the bluffs of Rand Park. For those interested in Mormon history, Lee County is the beginning of the Iowa Leg of the Mormon Pioneer National Historic Trail and has a number of interpretive exhibits throughout the county.
Hancock County, Illinois
Hancock County is rich in history and offers other types of attractions as well. Today Hancock County is most known for its Mormon history. This era of life in Hancock County can be fully explored by visiting sites such as the Historic Nauvoo Visitor’s Center, the Family Living Center, and the Carthage Jail. Other aspects of Hancock County’s history can be found at the Weld House Museum, the Rheinberger Museum, and the Kibbe Hancock Heritage Museum. The natural beauty of Hancock County can be seen at Nauvoo State Park and the Weinberg-King State Fish and Wildlife Area.
Adams County, Illinois
Quincy is the main attraction in Adams County. This city that sits on the bluffs overlooking the Mississippi River is home to a number of interesting places to visit. The Dr. Richard Eells House is recognized by the National Parks Service as an important Underground Railroad site. The John Wood Mansion is the restored home of Quincy’s founder and the twelfth Governor of Illinois, John Wood. Indian Mounds Park is one of the few places in the state where visitors can view Native American mounds. Quincy Museum in the Newcomb-Stillwell Mansion is home to exhibits on the Victorian era, Native American artifact exhibits, and a dinosaur exhibit. The Villa Kathrine is a unique example of Mediterranean architecture in the Midwest. and is home to the Quincy’s Tourist Information Center, a convenient first stop for visitors to Quincy. Rural Adams County features the Golden Windmill, the only smock mill with its original stones and gears in Illinois, and the 3,323-acre Siloam Springs Park.
Lewis & Clark Counties, Missouri
Lewis and Clark counties offer a variety of attractions for visitors. History can be taken in at both the Iliniwek Village State Historic Site, where a pre-European Native American village is interpreted, or at the Battle of Athens State Historic Site, the site of a Civil War battle and a site of a 19th century settlement. The Battle of Athens site also provides activities where visitors can engage with nature as well as camping opportunities. Wakonda State Park offers similar nature and camping opportunities.
For Travelers Down the River
Missouri's Lincoln Hills
The Lincoln Hills region of Missouri north of St. Louis is often called the Northern Ozarks. In the north is Hannibal, which conjures up images of the steamboat era and has become virtually synonymous with Mark Twain, Tom Sawyer, and Huck Finn. South of Hannibal is the Little Dixie Scenic Byway that travels atop limestone bluffs and through the real river towns of Clarksville and Louisiana. At the foot of the Lincoln Hills in Lincoln County is Cuivre River State Park, one of Missouri's largest and most rugged.
Meeting of the Great Rivers Scenic Byway
The Meeting of the Great Rivers Scenic Byway area is one of America’s newer scenic byways. With over 20,000 acres of forest and wetlands at the heart of the Mississippi Flyway, it is a nature lovers paradise. Visitors will find spectacular colors in the fall and bald eagles in the winter. History abounds in the region ranging from the prehistoric Cahokia Mounds to sites on the National Register of Historic Places.
