H. I. Lincoln Building
In 1860, Henry I. Lincoln — a distant relative to Abraham Lincoln — erected a native limestone building for his dry goods store. Today it serves a dual purpose. Part of the building is a Welcome Center with information on sites and attractions in the area, as well as merchandise and art provided by local vendors and artists. The rest is the Lincoln Highway Association National Interpretive Center, telling the story of the first transcontinental highway – the Lincoln Highway.
Concrete Highway Markers
One of the last actions of the original Lincoln Highway Association was to order the casting of 3,000 concrete markers to dedicate the highway in memory of Abraham Lincoln. On September 1, 1928 the markers were placed by Boy Scout troops all across the country. Today four of those markers, which were carefully restored and repainted in September 2019, remain between Ashton and Franklin Grove on Route 38.
Interpretive Murals
Lee County has three Interpretive Murals along the the Illinois Lincoln Highway. These depict the history, heritage and events of the highway and impact on American travel. See the murals at the links below.
