Springfield, Illinois

The Abraham Lincoln Presidential Library and Museum is a must-see attraction for history buffs. Located in Springfield, Illinois, just two hours northeast of St. Louis, the facility is the centerpiece of Springfield sites dedicated to America’s 16th president.

Want more history? Walk through the restored living history village of New Salem on Highway 97, just north of Springfield, where young Lincoln lived before his political career. Make sure to visit Lincoln’s home, the Old State Capitol, where he debated Stephen Douglas on the issue of slavery, and Lincoln’s Tomb at Oak Ridge Cemetery, too.

In addition to the Lincoln-related attractions, Frank Lloyd Wright’s spectacular Prairie-style Dana Thomas House as well as the Illinois State Museum, which depicts a detailed history of the Prairie State, are open to the public.

As you drive Route 66 back to St. Louis, don’t miss Shea’s, a quirky gas-station-turned-museum dedicated to the Mother Road.