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Illinois Lincoln Statues

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Abraham Lincoln and Stephen Douglas
Alton, IL
These bronze Abraham Lincoln and Stephen Douglas debate sculptures were created by Jerry McKenna. They were installed in 1995 at the site of the seventh and final debate in 1858. [map]

Abraham Lincoln
Ashmore, IL

2006:
2024:
The Abraham Lincoln statue is about 72 feet tall. The fiberglass and steel statue was built in 1968 by Bob Eglett. It was built to commemorate the 110th anniversary of the Lincoln-Douglas debates, one of which took place in town. The statue was produced in St. Paul, MN and trucked to the former Abraham Lincoln Memorial Park in Charleston, IL. Its extremely skinny body was produced in order to meet oversized load restrictions. In 1979, it was moved to its current location in Ashmore and installed at the Springhaven Campgrounds. The statue was restored from 2004-2005. At that time, there were plans to incorporate the statue into a complex called "Abe's Garden" with educational and recreational activities. However, that never happened and, by 2009, the statue was put up for sale. The smaller wood-carved Lincolns next to the larger statue were removed at some point. The giant Lincoln remains standing and neglected at the Bella Vita Private Resort. For more, see this website. [map]

Bloomington

Abraham Lincoln and Lady Liberty
Bunker Hill, IL
This Abraham Lincoln and Lady Liberty sculpture was created by William Grandville Hastings and installed in 1904. Lady Liberty inscribes on the granite base "with malice toward none," a quote from Lincoln's Second Inaugural Address. [map]

Abraham Lincoln
Charleston, IL
This chainsaw-carved Abraham Lincoln sculpture was installed sometime between 2008 and 2013 in Morton Park. [map]

Abraham Lincoln
Decatur, IL		 Abraham Lincoln and Stephen Douglas
Freeport, IL
This eight-foot-tall, bronze Abraham Lincoln sculpture in Decatur is installed in front of the Macon County Courthouse. It was created by Boris Lovet-Lorski in 1946. [map]

These bronze life-sized statues of Abraham Lincoln and Stephen Douglas commemorate the second debate between which took place in 1858. The statues were installed in 1992 close to the actual site where the debate took place. [map]

Abraham Lincoln
Hillsboro, IL		 Abraham Lincoln
Kankakee, IL
This bronze Abraham Lincoln sculpture in Hillsboro was created by John McClarey and installed in the Courthouse Square in 2009. Entitled "Among Friends," it depicts Lincoln stretching his back after traveling here from Mattoon in 1858. [map]

The Abraham Lincoln statue in Kankakee is 28 feet tall and stands on a 10-foot-tall base. The message on the sign he holds is changed from time to time. The statue is installed at Alexander Construction, facing I-57. It was built by FAST Fiberglass and has been here since at least 2004. [map]

Lincoln Trail Memorial
Lawrenceville, IL
The Lincoln Trail Memorial sculpture was created by Nellie Verne Walker and installed in 1938. It depicts young Lincoln's first entrance into Illinois from Indiana with his family. For more, see this website. [map]

Railsplitter Covered Wagon
Divernon, IL; now Lincoln, IL

2005:
2009:
This Railsplitter Covered Wagon features a fiberglass statue of Abraham Lincoln sitting and reading a law book. The statue was made by a "Wisconsin man" for Dave Bentley who built the World's Largest Covered Wagon in 2001. The Covered Wagon is 24 feet tall and 40 feet long. The Railsplitter Covered Wagon was originally installed on Bentley's property in Divernon. In 2004, the statue and wagon were displayed at the state fair in Springfield. In 2007, Bentley sold the statue to the City of Lincoln, IL. It was restored at that point. In 2014, strong winds nearly knocked the Covered Wagon over and damaged it. It has been repaired. For more, see these websites: 1, 2, 3, and 4. [map]

Abraham Lincoln
Marshall, IL		 Abraham Lincoln
Mount Vernon, IL
This bronze Abraham Lincoln sculpture in Marshall was installed in front of the Clark County Courthouse in 2009. It was created by Bill Wolfe. [map]

This nine-foot-tall bronze Abraham Lincoln statue in Mount Vernon is installed in front of the Appellate Courthouse. It was created by Alan Cottrill and installed in 2008. The depiction of him represents what he would have looked like in 1859 when he presented a case in this courthouse. [map]

Niles [map]

Abraham Lincoln
and Stephen Douglas
Ottawa, IL		 Abraham Lincoln
Springfield, IL
The first of the seven Abraham Lincoln and Stephen Douglas debates were held in Ottawa. These larger-than-life, bronze statues are located in a fountain in Washington Square, near the site of this debate. The statues were dedicated in 2002. There are also many painted murals in town commemorating the event. Douglas was five feet four inches tall while Lincoln was six foot three. [map]

This Abraham Lincoln statue in Springfield is 30 feet tall and stands at the Illinois State Fairgrounds. The rarely depicted clean-shaven Abe was constructed here in 1968. His nicknames include the "Rail Splitter" and the "Axe Murderer". [map]

More Springfield:
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Abraham Lincoln and Pig
Taylorville, IL
This bronze Abraham Lincoln statue in Taylorville shows him with a pig. The statue was created by John McLarey and installed in 2005 next to the courthouse where Lincoln practiced as a lawyer. Pigs used to root around and squeal under the courthouse. [map]

Abraham Lincoln
Vandalia, IL
This bronze Abraham Lincoln sculpture is entitled "Sitting with Lincoln." It was created by John McClarey and installed in 2001. Lincoln reads the local paper, the Vandalia Whig, in a small park with room on a bench for visitors to sit for photo-ops. [map]

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Illinois
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