Sangamon County: Lincoln Heritage, Nature and Route 66
Accommodation in Sangamon County
Sangamon County combines impressive Lincoln history with lake landscapes, nature trails, Route 66 culture and family-friendly discoveries. Those planning a trip with a variety of daily activities will find museums and historic sites as well as opportunities for fishing, horseback riding, cycling and wildlife watching. When choosing a vacation rental or holiday home, the key consideration is therefore whether you want to focus on Springfield, nature experiences or a balanced mix.
Culture and History Around Springfield
A clear focus is Springfield. The Lincoln Home was the Lincoln family’s home for 17 years. The Lincoln Home National Historic Site offers guided tours, self-guided exhibits, park films, a tour through a historic neighborhood covering four city blocks, and a Junior Ranger program. At the Old State Capitol, you can see a reconstruction of the Illinois Statehouse from the period between 1840 and 1876; Abraham Lincoln delivered his “House Divided” speech at this location. The Lincoln Tomb in Oak Ridge Cemetery is also one of the important historic destinations: it is the final resting place of Abraham Lincoln, Mary Todd Lincoln and three of their sons.
For further orientation, you can also visit the page on Springfield. Cultural attractions also include the Abraham Lincoln Presidential Museum, with interactive exhibits, multimedia programs and a reproduction of the 1861 White House, as well as the Treasures Gallery, featuring changing objects from the Lincoln Collection. These include an original handwritten copy of the Gettysburg Address. The Illinois State Museum complements these topics with natural history, anthropology, history and art.
Lake, Trails and Special Wildlife Experiences
Sangchris Lake State Park southeast of Springfield covers more than 3,000 acres and has 120 miles of shoreline. Fishing is available there; boat access points are located on the lake’s eastern and western shores as well as at the Strawkas Point boat ramp near Illinois Route 104. In addition, there are 20 miles of horseback riding trails and nature trails with wildflowers and songbirds. These different options allow you to choose between water, trails and wildlife watching on individual days.
Carpenter Park also contributes to the nature experience and provides habitat for at least 82 breeding bird species. The Sangamon Valley Trail is also home to the Franklin’s ground squirrel, a species that is state-listed as endangered in Illinois and protected under the Illinois Endangered Species Act. Those who prefer to travel by bicycle can include the Route 66 Bicycle Trail through Sangamon County in their plans. It runs from the Logan County border in the north through Divernon to the Montgomery County border in the south.
Family Experiences and Unusual Museums
Henson Robinson Zoo is home to more than 90 species of native and exotic animals in naturalistic enclosures. Educational programs are aimed at children ages 2 to 17, and there are also hands-on activities for children and adults. This allows you to complement a museum day with a more active outing without giving up the cultural focus of the trip.
Other distinct themes are offered by the Ace Sign Co. Sign Museum, with more than 85 historic signs from Springfield and Route 66, as well as historic neon signs. The Illinois Fire Museum displays antique firefighting memorabilia, artworks, equipment and sculptures, and has one of the largest collections of fire badges in the United States. Clayville Historic Site recreates an early pioneer village with historic buildings that were relocated there from central Illinois. The Springfield & Central Illinois African American History Museum focuses on the lives of African Americans in central Illinois, past and present. Route History conveys how Route 66 influenced African American history in Springfield and beyond.
Local Flavors and Practical Planning
A culinary specialty is the Horseshoe Sandwich. The Signature Horseshoe Sandwich was created in 1928 at the Old Leland Hotel by Joe Schweska. The Springfield Horseshoe consists of toasted Texas toast, meat of your choice, crispy French fries and homemade cheese sauce. Alongside history and nature, regional specialties like these give a trip its own local touch.
Travel to Springfield is served by Abraham Lincoln Capital Airport, Amtrak and Greyhound. The Sangamon Mass Transit District provides public transportation throughout the city of Springfield. Lincoln Memorial Garden is located on the shores of Lake Springfield. The garden is listed as open daily from sunrise to sunset; the Nature Center is open Tuesday through Saturday from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. and Sunday from 1 p.m. to 4 p.m.
When looking for accommodation, you can therefore first determine your preferred travel rhythm: A vacation rental in the Springfield area suits a stay focused on museums, Lincoln sites, the zoo and city attractions. If water, horseback riding trails or nature trails are to be the focus, it is worth checking the location of the accommodation in relation to the planned destinations. Sangamon County offers an unusual combination of cultural history, nature and Route 66 experiences.
For the overarching travel overview: Illinois.
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