Abraham Lincoln, before becoming one of the United States’ most revered presidents, had his beginnings in the modest village of New Salem, Illinois. This historical site, found over 200 miles southwest of Chicago, played a crucial role in shaping Lincoln’s character and career in the early 1830s, long before his famous national contributions.
New Salem is now part of a state park where volunteers dressed in period clothing offer historical demonstrations that attract hundreds of thousands each year. However, this continued engagement is threatened by the deteriorating condition of the site, which was initially restored during the Great Depression. Due to long-standing neglect, a collective effort from dedicated volunteers and state lawmakers has resulted in securing state funds for necessary restoration efforts, though work has yet to commence.
Lincoln stumbled upon New Salem in 1831 when his flatboat became stuck on the Sangamon River dam. This unforeseen event proved pivotal; Lincoln eventually returned to New Salem after reaching New Orleans. His experiences in this small community were transformative. Within its bounds, Lincoln encountered people spanning the spectrum of religious beliefs and educational backgrounds. New Salem is where he experienced bankruptcy, took military action, served as a postmaster, learned surveying and geometry, and launched his lifelong legal and political trajectory, making it an undeniably significant historic site in Illinois and beyond, according to state Sen. Steve McClure.
Significant portions of New Salem, however, have been deemed unsafe for public access. Flood damage in 2016, structural failures in key buildings such as the gristmill, carding mill, and Trent brothers’ barn, illustrate the urgent need for renovation. Gina Gillmore-Wolter, president of the New Salem Lincoln League, along with state lawmakers, spurred legislative action to gain financial support for necessary repairs. Consequently, $8 million was allocated by the Illinois Department of Natural Resources, which should enable substantial stabilization of the site.
The fading of New Salem’s vitality began soon after Lincoln left in 1837, as its buildings were relocated to the new county seat of Petersburg. Ironically, the Onstott Cooper Shop, where Lincoln borrowed a tool to free his stranded flatboat, remains the sole original structure surviving in New Salem. By 1906, the area had dwindled to nothing more than a cow pasture with remnants of its structural foundations. The land, once acquired by media magnate William Randolph Hearst, eventually found its way into state custody, becoming a park in 1918 through Hearst’s donation.
Efforts to maintain New Salem were hindered by budget constraints, with financial troubles closing state parks in the late 2000s. Many believe significant developmental strides have not occurred since the 1970s. Advocates like Gillmore-Wolter urge for the site’s preservation, recognizing it as a formative place for Lincoln, akin to an “alma mater.” For Illinois and its visitors, New Salem remains a priority as home to historical seeds that grew into the nation-strengthening legacy of Abraham Lincoln.