Mount Auburn IllinoisATTRACTIONS & THINGS TO DO
Listed below are the best attractions and things to do near Mount Auburn, Illinois.
1. Rock Springs Conservation Area & Nature Center
NATURAL OASIS FOR EXPLORERS
Rock Springs Conservation Area & Nature Center offers visitors a serene environment to connect with nature through well-maintained hiking trails and educational exhibits. The center features interactive displays about local wildlife and ecosystems that appeal to visitors of all ages. Guided nature programs are available throughout the year, making it a perfect destination for families and nature enthusiasts alike.
2. Sangchris Lake State Park
OUTDOOR RECREATION PARADISE
Sangchris Lake State Park encompasses a beautiful reservoir surrounded by picturesque landscapes perfect for fishing, boating, and wildlife observation. The park features multiple campgrounds, picnic areas, and hiking trails that wind through diverse habitats supporting a variety of plant and animal species. Visitors can enjoy seasonal hunting opportunities and bird watching, with the lake being especially known for its population of bald eagles during winter months.
3. Dear Yesteryear
NOSTALGIC ANTIQUE EXPERIENCE
Dear Yesteryear is a charming antique shop featuring carefully curated collections of vintage items and collectibles from various eras. Visitors can browse through unique home décor, furniture, and memorabilia while experiencing the warm, welcoming atmosphere created by knowledgeable staff. The shop regularly rotates its inventory, ensuring that each visit offers new discoveries and nostalgic treasures to take home.
4. Walnut Street Winery
LOCAL WINE TASTING DESTINATION
Walnut Street Winery invites visitors to sample a diverse selection of locally produced wines in a relaxed, rustic setting. The winery features outdoor seating areas where guests can enjoy their favorite varietals while taking in the peaceful surroundings. Regular events including live music performances and special tastings enhance the experience for wine enthusiasts and casual visitors alike.
5. Historic Brick Road
ORIGINAL ROUTE 66 SEGMENT
Historic Brick Road offers travelers an authentic journey along a preserved segment of the original Route 66, featuring distinctive red bricks that have weathered decades of American road history. Visitors can drive or walk along this quiet stretch, imagining the bustling traffic of the Mother Road's heyday while enjoying the rural Illinois landscape. The well-preserved roadway serves as a living museum of America's transportation heritage, perfect for photography and reflection.
6. Mount Auburn Cemetery
HISTORIC SERENE MEMORIAL GROUNDS
Mount Auburn Cemetery is a beautiful and tranquil burial ground established in 1867, modeled after the original Mount Auburn Cemetery in Cambridge, Massachusetts. The cemetery features majestic oak trees, beautiful maples, and pine trees that keep the grounds green throughout the year, creating a park-like setting for visitors. Beyond its primary purpose, the cemetery welcomes activities like walking, biking, jogging, and strolling with pets, making it both a place of remembrance and recreation.
7. Lincoln Trail Homestead State Park
PRESIDENTIAL HERITAGE SITE
Lincoln Trail Homestead State Park preserves the site of Abraham Lincoln's first Illinois home, offering visitors a glimpse into the early frontier life that shaped America's 16th president. The 162-acre park features peaceful walking trails along the Sangamon River, interpretive displays, and picnic facilities for family outings. Nature enthusiasts can enjoy bird watching and wildlife observation while reflecting on this important piece of American presidential history.
8. Decatur Lake
RECREATIONAL WATERFRONT GETAWAY
Decatur Lake (Lake Decatur) provides a scenic 2,800-acre reservoir where visitors can enjoy boating, fishing, and water sports in the heart of central Illinois. The lake's shoreline features multiple parks, boat launches, and the popular Nelson Park complex with amenities for the whole family. Anglers particularly appreciate the lake for its populations of largemouth bass, crappie, and catfish, making it a year-round fishing destination.
9. Scovill Zoo
FAMILY-FRIENDLY ANIMAL ENCOUNTERS
Scovill Zoo offers an intimate and educational wildlife experience featuring over 400 animals representing more than 90 species from around the world. Visitors can ride the Z.O.&O. Express train through the grounds or take a spin on the endangered species carousel while enjoying the well-designed habitats. The zoo's commitment to conservation is evident through its participation in Species Survival Plans and its focus on creating meaningful connections between visitors and animals.
10. Dana-Thomas House
FRANK LLOYD WRIGHT MASTERPIECE
The Dana-Thomas House stands as one of the most complete and best-preserved Frank Lloyd Wright-designed residences, showcasing the architect's Prairie Style at its finest. Visitors can tour the 12,000-square-foot home with its 35 rooms, over 100 pieces of original Wright-designed furniture, and more than 250 art glass doors, windows, and light panels. The house's stunning architectural details and expansive spaces reflect the progressive spirit of Susan Lawrence Dana, who commissioned Wright to design this remarkable structure in 1902.
11. Abraham Lincoln Presidential Library and Museum
IMMERSIVE PRESIDENTIAL HISTORY
The Abraham Lincoln Presidential Library and Museum offers visitors a state-of-the-art immersive experience chronicling the life and legacy of America's 16th president through interactive exhibits and historical artifacts. The museum's holographic theater presentations, recreated historical scenes, and special effects bring Lincoln's era to life in ways that engage visitors of all ages. The companion presidential library houses an extensive collection of Lincoln-related documents and materials, making this complex a premier destination for history enthusiasts and casual visitors alike.
12. Lincoln's New Salem
LIVING HISTORY PIONEER VILLAGE
Lincoln's New Salem is a meticulously reconstructed 1830s village where Abraham Lincoln spent his formative young adult years, featuring 23 historic buildings furnished with period antiques. Costumed interpreters demonstrate pioneer crafts and daily activities, allowing visitors to experience life as Lincoln would have known it. The site includes a visitor center with exhibits about Lincoln's six pivotal years in New Salem, where he worked as a shopkeeper, postmaster, and surveyor while beginning his self-education in law.
13. Illinois State Capitol
ARCHITECTURAL GOVERNMENT LANDMARK
The Illinois State Capitol stands as an impressive example of Renaissance Revival architecture, crowned by a stunning 361-foot dome that dominates the Springfield skyline. Visitors can take guided tours of the ornate interior featuring grand staircases, magnificent rotunda, and legislative chambers adorned with stained glass, intricate murals, and statuary. The building continues to function as the center of Illinois government while also preserving important historical elements from its completion in 1888.
14. Lincoln Home National Historic Site
PRESIDENTIAL FAMILY RESIDENCE
The Lincoln Home National Historic Site preserves the only home Abraham Lincoln ever owned, a modest two-story house where he lived with his family for 17 years before becoming president. Ranger-led tours take visitors through the meticulously restored rooms that witnessed Lincoln's transformation from prairie lawyer to presidential candidate. The surrounding four-block historic district features period homes and exhibits that recreate the neighborhood as Lincoln would have known it in the mid-19th century.
15. Knight's Action Park
FAMILY ENTERTAINMENT COMPLEX
Knight's Action Park offers families a diverse entertainment complex combining water attractions, go-karts, miniature golf, and batting cages in one convenient location. The water park section features multiple slides, a wave pool, lazy river, and dedicated children's areas that provide cooling fun during hot Illinois summers. Additional attractions include a driving range, arcade games, and seasonal events that make this a popular destination for locals and tourists alike.