Chicago, IL

In April of 2005, the Abraham Lincoln Presidential Library and Museum opened for business in Springfield, Illinois. Although Springfield is technically not a suburb of Chicago, at 200 miles away it is too far to earn that title, I love the museum so much I thought I would include it in my weekly feature.

The museum is part history lesson, part mini theme park, complete with replicas of Abe and his family and interactive shows. I had the honor of being one of the first guests at the museum on opening day back in 2005, which was a fun day complete with several Abe Lincoln impersonators milling around in the town.

One of the sculptures in the museum


This is a great place for kids, as it has fun exhibits to keep them interested and will provide them with a great education about Lincoln. The sets at the museum are beautiful, including a replica of the log cabin that Abe grew up in, as well as a replica of the White House.

While in Springfield, you can also visit the house that Abe lived in with his family during his time in the legislature, as well as the old courthouse, among other things. This is definitely worth a visit for both children and adults if you are looking for an educational and fun experience.