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Menard County Tourism
There are many places to visit and explore here in our local area. Whether you are interested in history, nature, or a fun shopping experience - Menard County Illinois should be your next destination!
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Tourism Web Sites
Edgar Lee Masters Home and Museum
Edgar Lee Masters' Home Located on the comer of Eighth and Jackson Streets in Petersburg. Open from 10:00 a.m. to 12 noon and 1:00 to 3:00 p.m. Tues., Thurs.-Sat. Memorial Day through Labor Day.
Other County Points of Interest
- Tallula, Il. - In 1872 Richard Yates (who was later Governor of Illinois) and W. G. Greene were responsible for laying out the community known as Tallula.
- Greenview, Il. - Located in the northeast part of Menard County and named for William Greene, a Menard County Pioneer, Greenview was laid out in 1857 by a company of six men.
- Athens, Il. - Centered in the heart of historical "Lincoln Country", the village of Athens has a fascinating history in it's own right. It was platted and surveyed in 1831, was incorporated and became the "City" of Athens in the late 1800s and was the site of Lincoln's first speech when running for the Legislature for the third time. Athens is the gateway to historic New Salem. Athens is 8 miles from New Salem and only 12 miles north of Springfield where Lincoln's life is captured through many historic sites. When in Athens, be sure to visit Lincoln's "Long Nine" Museum.
- Oakford, Il. - Population 257 - Located in the northwestern part of Menard County. Oakford was established in 1872 by William Oakford and William Colson.
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Visitor Center for Lincoln's New Salem SP
This park, with its log cabin village, is situated two miles south of Petersburg. This is where Abraham Lincoln lived from 1831 to 1837. It now has more than one-half million visitors each year. Learn More About New Salem |
Other Petersburg Points of Interest
- Lincoln Survey Point - This is where Abraham Lincoln began the survey of Petersburg. Located on the corner of Seventh and Jackson Streets.
- Menard County Historical Museum - Owned and maintained by the Menard County Historical Society. Located on the corner of Seventh and Jackson Streets in Petersburg. The building is an interesting example of Victorian architecture.
- Abraham Lincoln Documents - Displayed on the second floor of the Menard County Court House in Petersburg.
- Old City Cemetery - Located on Sixth and Washington Streets in Petersburg. Burials here date from the 1830s. Some early settlers in this pioneer Illinois community are buried here.
- Ann Rutledge Grave in Oakland Cemetery - Located in the southwest corner of Petersburg on one of the roads to Lake Petersburg. The stone surmounting the grave of Ann Rutledge bears an inscription written by poet Edgar Lee Masters, who is buried nearby. Here also can be found the graves of "Mitch" Miller, Hannah Armstrong, Bowling and Nancy Green.
- Rose Hill Cemetery - Located one mile east of Petersburg. Located here are the graves of Major B. F. Stephenson, founder of the G.A.R.; Peter Lukins, for whom Petersburg was named; Dr. John Allen and Samuel Hill, noted figures of New Salem's history.
Visit Nearby Springfield, IL
Of course, many other Lincoln sites are in nearby Springfield, Illinois, including the Abraham Lincoln Presidential Museum. |
Seasonal Attractions:
 Terror In the Graveyard Attraction - Petersburg's long-running "Terror On The Square" October event has morphed into the new "Terror In The Graveyard" experience, and was bigger and better in 2016! There are more scares, more scenes, and a scary nightime outdoor location. Since this year's attraction is outdoors, appropriate shoes and clothing is recommended. The new venue is located 1 mile north of Petersburg at the Menard County Fairgrounds, and is only 20 miles Northwest of Springfield along State Route 97. (Follow the signs!) For more information, you can find them on Facebook or their web site at www.terrorontheweb.com.
You can also Download A Copy of The Full-size Flyer Here.
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