1871 Water Well Memorial

Santa Fe engineers were surveying and platting the Newton town site on Section 17 in March 1871. Captain David L. Payne, state legislator from this district, and other early settlers saw the urgent need for domestic drinking water. Captain Payne ...

General Gates Headquarters

Site of

General Gates

Headquarters

previous to surrender of

General Burgoyne

Oct. 17, 1777

Marker is on U.S. 4, on the left when traveling south.

Courtesy hmdb.org

The Transfer House

As the Grand Old Lady of Decatur architectural heritage, the Transfer House is not only a major city landmark, but is designated as the official symbol of the city. Originally located in downtown;s Lincoln Square, the unique structure was built ...

Chestnut Grove School

The Chestnut Grove Schoolhouse was established in 1887 to meet the educational aspirations of Black children. It was built and equipped by local Black farmers. The land was donated by a Black farmer named Floyd Kenny, who could not read ...

Gates Headquarters

Saratoga

Oct. 7, 1777

Headquarters

of

General Horatio Gates

The gift of

George M. Pullman

Marker is on New York Route 32, on the left when traveling west.

Courtesy hmdb.org

The Richard J. Oglesby Mansion

A three time Governor of Illinois

A Major General in the Civil War

A United States Senator

Marker is at the intersection of West Williams Street and North Edwards Street on West Williams Street.

Courtesy hmdb.org

Judge William Duer

?

Site of home

Judge William Duer

statesman and patriot

Marker is on Duer Street, on the left when traveling east.

Courtesy hmdb.org

Lincoln's Decatur Ally

Richard J. Oglesby was born in Kentucky, journeyed to Decatur as a young orphan, and later became one of Decatur's most prominentand best-loved citizens. Oglesby made a small fortune in the California Gold Rush and fought in both the Mexican ...

Duer House

¼ M. ?

Duer House

British Headquarters

Aug. 14 – Sept. 10, 1777

Marker is at the intersection of U.S. 4 and Duer Street, on the left when traveling south on U.S. 4.

Courtesy hmdb.org

Getting There from Here

The road beside this wayside exhibit is west main street. It was one of the main routes into and out of the City of Decatur all during the time of Lincoln's travels as a lawyer on the Eighth Judicial Circuit, ...