Explore the Museum

Located on the campus of the only college named for Lincoln in his lifetime, the Lincoln Heritage Museum exhibits a rare and valuable collection of artifacts that tell the story of the life and times of Abraham Lincoln. Here are only a few examples of the vast artifacts in the collection.

“The Head of Lincoln”

Renowned artist Sacha Newly donated his artwork to the Lincoln Heritage Museum in 2008. “The Head of Lincoln” depicts a young Abraham Lincoln and includes the words of the Gettysburg Address.

Lincoln Home Artifacts

The museum houses several artifacts from the Lincoln Home in Springfield, Illinois. This rocker belonged to Tad Lincoln, the youngest of Abraham Lincoln’s four sons. In a time when material possessions were few, this rocker exhibits the pride that Tad had in his chair, and exemplifies the mischief that the Lincoln boys often created. Young Tad was likely aged 7 or 8 when he carved with a pocketknife his name on the back of his chair.

Campaign Banner

This one-of-a-kind canvas campaign banner, featuring an axe and a maul, and made in lampblack, reflects the “Railsplitter Candidate” campaign images that were closely with Lincoln’s presidential run in 1860. It was used in several rallies in central Illinois that year, and undoubtedly helped launch Lincoln from a grassroots candidate to a national candidate.

Union Drum

Important to keeping up the troops’ marching rhythm, as well as their war spirit and resolve, this original Civil War Union drum was used in several Virginia battles including Fredericksburg and Chancellorsville. With it are the original straps and sticks. The drum is among the many original Civil War pieces that the museum exhibits, alongside several Civil War rifles, recruitment broadsides, diaries, and personal effects soldiers carried with them into battle and camp life.

Portrait

On February 12, 2004, the Lincoln Heritage Museum unveiled an original 1865 William Cogswell oil canvas portrait of Abraham Lincoln. The artist, Cogswell, was known as a portraitist of some distinction, and his subjects include Presidents Lincoln, Grant, and McKinley. The portrait was donated by Louis Starr of New York who felt that the Lincoln Heritage Museum would be a fitting home for the painting.

September 11, 2001

The museum has become a repository for history beyond Abraham Lincoln and 19th century America, especially with the addition the astounding 3’ steel girder from Tower One of the World Trade Center. Issued to us by the Office of the Mayor in New York City, this extraordinary beam has become a center of great attention in our community, evoking memories of the horror of September 11, 2001. Accompanying the piece is an American flag listing names of all who perished on 9/11, a United Airlines flight attendant jacket worn on 9/11, and personal items given to our museum by a local family who lost their son in Tower One on that day.

Hall of Presidents

Outside the entrance to the main exhibit area of the Lincoln Heritage Museum is the Hall of Presidents. It boasts a rare collection of original, hand-written signed letters and documents from every chief executive and some first ladies, as well as photographs, prints, biographical information, and commemorative medals of the Presidents.

We invite you to see our amazing collection. Visit us today.