Petersburg, Illinois Attractions & Historic Points of Interest

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Historic Points of Interest

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Survey Point

This is where Abraham Lincoln began the survey of Petersburg. Located on the corner of Seventh and Jackson Streets.

Menard County Historical MuseumClick Button to View Photo

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.

Edgar Lee Masters' HomeClick Button to View Photo

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.

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.

Lincoln's New Salem State Historic Site

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.

Other County Points of Interest

Tallula, Il. - Menard CountyClick Button to View Photo

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. - Menard CountyClick Button to View Photo

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. - Menard CountyClick Button to View Photo

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.

Click Here to visit Lincoln's "Long Nine" Museum

Oakford, Il. - Menard CountyClick Button to View Photo

Population 257 - Located in the northwestern part of Menard County. Established in 1872 by William Oakford and William Colson.