Mount Pulaski Courthouse State Historic Site facts for kids
Quick facts for kids |
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Mount Pulaski Courthouse
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Western front and northern side
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 Location in Illinois
Location in the United States
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| Location | Public Sq., Mount Pulaski, Illinois |
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| Area | Less than 1 acre (0.40 ha) |
| Built | 1847 |
| Architectural style | Greek Revival |
| NRHP reference No. | 78001164 |
| Added to NRHP | August 3, 1978 |
The Mount Pulaski Courthouse State Historic Site is an old county courthouse in Mount Pulaski, Illinois, United States. It was the main government building, called the county seat, for Logan County from 1848 to 1855. This courthouse is one of only two buildings left from the "Eighth Circuit." This was the area where a famous central Illinois lawyer, Abraham Lincoln, often worked.
Today, the Illinois Historic Preservation Agency takes care of the courthouse. It is a state historic site where visitors can take tours. You can see how the county offices and courtroom looked long ago.
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Welcome to Mount Pulaski Courthouse!
The Mount Pulaski Courthouse has a very interesting past. It played an important role in Logan County's early days. It also has a special connection to one of America's most famous presidents.
A Special Place in History
Before 1848, Logan County used a wooden courthouse. This building was in a town called Postville. Wooden buildings could easily catch fire, which was a big worry for county leaders. They started looking for a town that would help pay for a new, stronger building made of brick or stone.
Why Was a New Courthouse Built?
The people of Mount Pulaski stepped up to help. They raised $2,700 to go towards the $3,000 needed for a new courthouse. This new two-story brick building is the Mount Pulaski Courthouse we see today. It was built in a style called Greek Revival. This means it looks a bit like ancient Greek temples, with tall columns and triangular shapes at the top.
Abraham Lincoln's Visits
When the new courthouse opened in 1848, Abraham Lincoln was serving in the U.S. House of Representatives. He represented central Illinois in Washington D.C. When he came back to Illinois in 1849, he started practicing law again. He often visited the Mount Pulaski courthouse as part of his work in the Eighth Circuit. Mount Pulaski is about 25 miles (40 km) north of Lincoln's home in Springfield. This was a full day's trip by horse and buggy back then.
Moving the County Seat
Mount Pulaski is in the southeastern part of Logan County. In the early 1850s, a new railroad was built. This railroad, which later became the Chicago and Alton Railroad, went northeast from Springfield. It passed through Logan County but did not go near Mount Pulaski.
The new railroad quickly became very important for the county's growth. So, county leaders decided to move the county seat again. They chose a spot closer to the center of the county and right on the new railroad line. This new town was named Lincoln, Illinois, after Abraham Lincoln. He had many friends in the county by this time. The people of the county voted in 1853 and agreed to the move. By 1855, the court and county government had left Mount Pulaski.
Sadly, the county leaders' fear of fire came true in 1857. A fire destroyed many county records at the new location. This included court papers from when Lincoln worked in Logan County. Because of this, we don't know much about the specific cases Lincoln handled in Mount Pulaski.
What Happened After 1855?
The Mount Pulaski Courthouse only served as the county seat for about five years. After 1855, the building was used for many different things. It was a school, the Mount Pulaski city hall, the local jail, and even the post office.
Saving a Piece of the Past
In the 1930s, Illinois Governor Henry Horner started looking for old public buildings that Abraham Lincoln had used. Mount Pulaski gave the old brick courthouse to the state of Illinois in 1936. The state then carefully restored it between 1936 and 1939. They wanted it to look just like it did when it was a busy county courthouse.
A National Treasure
The courthouse was added to the National Register of Historic Places on August 3, 1978. This means it is recognized as a very important historical place. It earned this honor because of its role in local history and its beautiful old architecture. Someone from the Logan County planning commission at the time said it was "among the finest and best-preserved pre-1850 buildings in the state."
