Vermilion County Museum, Illinois, United States

5Annaline 5:00 PM Oct 9, 2017

I was not inside
I was late so I didn't get inside but I was so happy to learn about this place from the signage located outside. There were enough info to get my interest. So I googled on my phone the whole story about this place. I learned that Lincoln was speaking from the balcony of this historic building (the main museum building as actually next door). I got very interested and now I am thinking about getting back here as soon as I can so I can get inside to learn and see more.

5Taylor B 5:00 PM Jan 3, 2016

Welcome to Gene Hackman's home town
Many cities, large and small, are proud and quick to brag about their native sons and daughters. But how many cities the size of Danville, Illinois, with 32,523 residents in 2013, can boast of so many well-known and accomplished celebrities--Gene Hackman, Dick Van Dyke, Donald O'Connor, Bobby Short and Jerry Van Dyke? They play prominent roles in the history of Danville and surrounding Vermilion County, which is magnificently displayed in the Vermilion County Museum. Located at 116 North Gilbert Street, the museum is housed in a home built by pioneer physician William Fithian, who in his lifetime served as prairie legislator, horseback doctor, Civil War surgeon and personal friend of Abraham Lincoln. The house is listed on the National Register of Historic Places. Lincoln spoke from a balcony of the house on September 21, 1858. The exterior of the Vermilion County Museum was designed to resemble the old Vermilion County Courthouse in 1833. The main building is located directly behind the Fithian House. The Lincoln Room contains the original floor that Lincoln walked upon and the canopied bed in which he slept. Other exhibits include a 1930s era street, the interior of a coal mine shaft, a recreation of the Lincoln/Lamon law office and an early 1900 school room. Few towns of this size have so much to be proud of.