Lincoln, Illinois: A Stop Along Route 66

Lincoln as a Route 66 stop

Lincoln, Illinois, is a significant stop along historic Route 66. Themes for a stay include the history of the city and the road, nature parks, art exhibitions, and an aquatic center with specific water attractions. This lets you tailor your focus to your interests: from historical context to park landscapes, art, and water activities.

Route 66 and local history

In the center of Lincoln is the Logan County Tourism Bureau and Visitor Center, located in the Historic Train Depot. The Chicago and Alton Railroad built the depot in 1911. The Postville Courthouse is a reconstruction of Logan County’s first seat of government. Downtown Lincoln has been listed in the National Register of Historic Places since December 24, 1985. These places highlight different points in time: the courthouse as a reconstruction of the first seat of government, the depot from 1911, and Downtown Lincoln’s listing in 1985.

Museums and Route 66 heritage

The Mill Museum on 66 is an original Route 66 building that opened as The Blue Mill in 1929. It reopened on April 29, 2017. It houses Route 66 memorabilia as well as exhibits about The Mill Restaurant, The Tropics, and The Pig Hip. The two years mark distinct milestones: the building’s opening as The Blue Mill in 1929 and the museum’s reopening in 2017.

Despite the closure of Lincoln College in May 2022, the Lincoln Heritage Museum remains open during its regular hours. Its Immersion Tour is an immersive audiovisual experience. The Heritage in Flight Museum focuses on preserving aviation history and features aviation and military exhibits representing all major military conflicts.

Parks, trails, and nature

Creekside Park spans 104 acres and includes a restored tallgrass prairie, a prairie log cabin, native gardens, and a demonstration pond. The nature trails and boardwalks at Creekside Park and Environmental Center provide access to Sugar Creek. This park therefore combines a variety of prairie and garden features with trails and boardwalks along the water.

Kickapoo Creek Park offers more than 10 miles of trails through dense woods and open prairie areas. It also has a paved path for walking and biking that runs alongside the main road. The parks have different features to compare: Creekside highlights prairie, gardens, and boardwalks with access to Sugar Creek; Kickapoo, trails through woods and open prairie, as well as the paved walking and biking path.

Art and water activities

The Lincoln Arts Institute hosts monthly art exhibitions. If you want to plan your stay around a particular exhibition, check the specific date in advance. This lets you make an art visit a distinct focus of your trip planning.

The Lincoln Park District/Aquatic Center includes a zero-depth-entry pool for toddlers, a swimming pool, and a large waterslide. These three water attractions provide a concrete point of reference if you are considering Lincoln for water activities as well as historic sites and nature parks.

Discover more destinations: New Holland, Hartsburg.

For the broader travel overview: Logan.