Abraham Lincoln and Mary Owens

Abraham Lincoln was 22 when he moved to New Salem, Illinois

New Salem

A recreated village of New Salem is located on its original site less than an hour’s drive from Springfield, IL – and well worth the ride!

The recreated New Salem Village

Lincoln lived there for about five years. It was small but in many ways it changed his life. He had recently left the family farm to make his own way. Fortune, and a job tending a general store, led him to the little village on the Sangamon River. He liked it, and the town liked him as well.

It was there that he matured, made friends – even with the fellows on the rough side of town – and began his political career in the state legislature. It was there that he joined the local militia to fight in the Black Hawk War. They “elected” him…