Lincoln in Montgomery County

Abraham Lincoln’s Montgomery County connections were numerous. Lincoln made several speaking appearances in Montgomery County; and along the way, he made many friendships here.

He was not always politically aligned with Montgomery County and lost the county in both of his Presidential elections. But the county joined the nation in its grieving upon his assassination.

Today the Lincoln legacy still lingers in the county and is reflected in its history, artwork, and tourism. - Liner notes from Tom Emery’s book, Lincoln in Montgomery County, Illinois.

The Lincoln Heritage Trail

When it was established in 1963, the Lincoln Heritage Trail was intended to link historic sites across three states. Today, only remnants remain, a relic of a not-so-distant era of travel. The trail rolled through the heart of Montgomery County, as the trail took motorists from Vandalia northward State Route 185 into Hillsboro. There, the Trail picked up State Route 127, passing northward through Butler and Raymond before joining State Route 48 westward three miles to its junction with Interstate 55 northward. The Trail signs in Montgomery County are among the best preserved of the few that remain. - From the book, Lincoln In Montgomery County, by Tom Emery