Mount Pulaski Courthouse State Historic Site, Illinois, United States

4barkus1968 5:00 PM Sep 19, 2020

Simple affair
If you enjoy driving through small towns in Illinois and visiting historic sites...this is good stop. The town square is not in great shape, but everything is well maintained. The courthouse has limited history - it’s more like a school. I liked the visit. But I’m hardcore. I visit EVERY historic site. :-).

5Taylor B 5:00 PM Sep 30, 2015

Another courthouse where Lincoln argued cases
As we traveled the Lincoln Trail throughout Illinois, we had to stop at the Mount Pulaski Courthouse, which along with Metamora is the only courthouse still standing in Illinois in which Abraham Lincoln regularly argued cases during his days as a circuit lawyer in the 1850s. Just to be standing in the second floor courtroom where Lincoln established his reputation as both an accomplished practitioner of the law and a gifted speaker is an eerie and awesome and inspiring experience. Mount Pulaski Courthouse was built in 1848 and served as the Logan County seat of government until 1855. After the county seat was moved to Lincoln in 1855, the former courthouse was used as a city hall, school and post office. In 1935, the state purchased the building and began efforts to restore it to an 1850s appearance. The two-story brick Greek Revival building stands at the center of the Mount Pulaski public square. The first floor, divided by a hallway,contains six rooms representing county offices. The second floor houses a courtroom, jury room and a judge's chambers. The flooring in the courtroom is original. The grounds are shaded by large trees. It's almost as if you'd expect Lincoln himself to be riding up the street to argue a case in the courtroom. In 1978, Mount Pulaski Courthouse was added to the National Register of Historic Places. Visitors are provided guided tours of the recreated county offices and courtroom. This is a must stop for history buffs who want to visit Lincoln sites in Illinois.