We followed the signs getting off at the cemetery. We passed different war memorials before finding a lot in front of Lincoln's grave. There were restrooms at the gravesite. Visiting Lincoln's Tomb was free. Pres Lincoln, Mary, & 3 of their sons' remains are here. The Lincoln Tomb was formally dedicated on October 15, 1874, 150-years ago. The Illinois Department of Natural Resources presents "Porch Talks" on the grounds of the Residence at the Lincoln Tomb providing :20 programs about lesser-known facts surrounding this monument. We drove into the cemetery, passing From 1865 to 1901, Lincoln's coffin was moved 17 times due to construction & fears for the safety of the president's remains. There was actually a plot in 1876 to steal his body and hold it for ransom. The coffin itself was opened on five separate occasions. Lincoln Cemetery is a 112 acre historically African American cemetery in Blue Island, with over 16,000 interments. Many famous black musicians, scientists, aviators, athletes ... are also here. read more

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Abraham Lincoln's Tomb is in the Oakridge Cemetery just a short drive from downtown Springfield. He's buried there with his wife Mary and his 3 sons. This is his final resting place after his coffin was moved 17 times due to potential grave robbers and construction of this site. The obelisk outside the tomb is 117 ft tall there are several rooms and bronze statues of Lincoln duplicating him at different times of his life. The inside is solid marble! There's even a grave keepers home alongside the grave that appointed custodians lived and watched over his tomb from 1874-2014. Due to state budget issues, the last custodian retired and wasn't replaced. read more

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This is an amazing resting place for an amazing president. The massive structure is as impressive inside as outside. Abe and his wife and all but one of his children rest inside. Many statues represent Lincoln in various stages of his life. The cemetery itself is massive and I wish we had had time to explore it. read more

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Free parking. Free admission. Clean restrooms. Must see beautifully maintained grounds, florals, historic and educational site honoring former President, Abraham Lincoln. We're very pleased to stop by for a visit. Eventually led to friendly discussion and debate between my husband and son. Donations are welcome at the end of self guided, go at your own pace tour. We also quizzed our son regarding what Abraham Lincoln was famous for. Highly recommend for all to visit. read more

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The outside is under restoration, which is a bit of a bummer, but the inside is still open for view. This isn't the fanciest presidential tomb I've been to. That would be Grant's mausoleum in New York City (though he's technically above ground in a sarcophagus, thus the trick question, who is buried in Grant's tomb). But it is somber and fits the man Lincoln was. He would not have wanted too much ornamentation. You take a one way loop down granite(?) hallways. You can see bronze casts or many of his famous statues that are placed all over the united states. The tomb is large and plain, surrounded by flags. I did not realize Mary Todd Lincoln was also buried here, as are all of his children except Robert, who is buried at Arlington. Hours are 9-5 and entry is free. It wasn't crowded when I visited, but from what I understand, it can be. There is a bronze bust of Lincoln outside, which you can tell is the subject of many a photo op, as his nose is now shiny from the many hands touching him. Located in Oak Ridge cemetery, the cemetery is open til 8, at least during the summer season. read more

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A must see in Springfield. Located in Oak Ridge Cemetery, a granite tomb and 117-foot obelisk serve as the final resting place for President Abraham Lincon, his wife Mary Todd Lincoln, and three of their four children, Eddie, Willie and Tad. Robert is buried at Arlington Cemetery. You can go inside the landmark and visit the semicircular receiving room. Bronze statues honoring Lincoln line the walkway leading to the Lincoln family tomb and chamber. Read the story about the Chicago grave robbers that attempted to steal the body and hold it for ransom. This led ultimately to Robert Todd Lincoln, the only surviving son, requesting that Lincoln's remain be moved to their final resting place a concrete vault 10 feet below the surface of the burial room. A bronze recasting of Gutzon Borglum's head of Lincoln stands on an outside pedestal. Borglum is most famous for his work on Mount Rushmore. Lincoln's Tomb was designated one of the first National Historic Landmarks in 1960. Free to visit. Stamps available for your National Park Passport. read more

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Touring this tomb is a deeply emotional experience. It's a moment to reflect on how diminished our current president is in comparison to the extraordinary leader and human being Abraham Lincoln. Standing next to Lincoln's burial place, that contrast feels absolutely overwhelmingly, devastatingly sad. read more

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You're proud to be an American when you visit his tomb and its why American history (good and bad) is so vital to all of us. A short drive from the freeway if you are driving cross country. Note, Outside is dog friendly, inside is not. Parking is easy and they have spots for campers/RV if you're towing. Souvenir store right outside the cemetery too read more

We are in Springfield for a couple of days and arrived late in the afternoon. Saving the Presidential Museum for tomorrow. This was built in 1874 and final resting place for President Lincoln, his wife and 3 of his 4 children. There were bronze statues and marbled walls. Very fancy place for an awesome President. We listened to a Porch talk led by a historian who totally put this liberal in her place when she made a stupid comment of our country being in a civil war nowadays. The historian gave us some good ideas where to go and do in Springfield. read more

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The tomb is located in Oak Ridge Cemetery and there's enough signage that you certainly can't miss it. Or just follow the parade of school buses that are bringing and endless number of kids here to see it. That said, you will want to wait until after all the kids have been and gone through the inside. It is underground and there is nothing to break down the echo. I lucked out and arrived during a school bus gap so I mostly had the inside to myself to see the tomb and view the statues of Lincoln inside and read the quotes. I've been to the Lincoln Monument and I've been to Gettysburg. This was definitely worth it for me. [Round number review 19700 overall - 152 in Illinois - 672 of 2023.] read more

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Review Visit: April 11th, 2012 Here lies Abraham Lincoln, Vampire Hunter and 16th President of the United States of America. Abraham is my favorite President. I'm not sure why but something about him resonates well with me. Maybe it's how all Illinois-born residents feel. Either way, visiting Springfield as a kid and seeing the Lincoln stuff is a huge part of most children's childhood growing up in the Central Illinois area. So, after visiting this place as a kid and coming back as an adult, it was great to see that nothing really changed from what I remember. Not that I would expect a tomb to undergo radical changes in 2 decades. Upon first getting here, you realize this is more than a plaque that marks a spot on the ground. The tomb itself is a building that you can go in and see where the President lies. You can take the stairs to the top of the building and do... something. It was under construction while I was there so we couldn't take in the sights from a higher elevation. Before you head in to the vault and get a little tour/history lesson, you HAVE to rub Lincoln's nose before you do anything else. It's a must. There is a giant Lincoln head outside that has an extra shiny nose from it being rubbed a million times over the years. After the nose-rubbing and tomb tour, you are free to explore the surrounding area. This is option but one I suggest if the weather allows. The groundskeeper does a great job of keeping the landscape beautiful. You can walk around to behind the tomb building to see the Receiving Vault. This is where Lincoln was temporarily buried until his final resting spot was available. Over the years, people have taken to throwing pennies in to the open area of the Receiving Vault. I may or may not have contributed some pennies to this. The Receiving Vault was a fun find as I never knew it was here. As Matt and I wandered the grounds, we ran across a possible bell tower. There was no signage indicating what it was so a bell tower is my best guess. If you have to visit Springfield for Lincoln-related things, the Tomb should be at the top of your list of places to visit. If you are someone who just likes to travel and explore new places, the Lincoln Tomb should be on the top of your list if you are in the Springfield area. read more

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Wow. This was very impressive. The Oak Ridge Cemetary itself was impressive. Graves go back to the 1840s. And the Cemetary is still selling plots to this day. We spent time just driving around, impressed by the monuments. Many have been maintained well, with very old plots seemingly having new stones. The tomb is fantastic, as is the history of the tomb. If you haven't learned about its history, it is worth looking up the grave robbers who tried to steal his body. Fortunately, there were unsuccessful, but it set the pace for the development of the tomb over time. Lincoln, Mary, and their three young children are all there. The eldest son, Robert Todd Lincoln, was buried at Arlington National Cemetary but is remembered in carved marble here. Directly over Lincoln and Mary is a large sarcophagus. As the story goes, there was at least one more attempt to steal Lincoln's body. They took the bodies and laid them under the floorboards until they had a better solution. The tomb was rebuilt in the early 1900s by their eldest son, Robert Todd Lincoln. To ensure there were no more robberies, he had the crew dig a ten-foot hole, the Lincoln's bodies were placed at the bottom, and thousands of pounds of concrete covered them. No one will be able to try that again. The tomb was the most impressive of the various things we saw in Lincoln during our trip. Do yourself a favor and find a way to see this sometime in your life. You will not be disappointed. read more

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Final resting place of Abraham Lincoln. It's not incredibly large but it's worth spending some like looking around inside and outside. Lincoln's Tomb might be the most famous Presidential tomb. At least besides Grant and Kennedy. This takes awhile to get to from the other Lincoln historical sites but is for sure worth a visit. Before going you have to make sure the tomb is open, but it usually is. It's a pretty beautiful looking stone monument with an even more beautiful interior full of Lincoln statues. This is the final resting place of Lincoln and his family, and has quite an interesting history too. One time thieves attempted to kidnap his body. They wanted to make a ransom, but were caught before they could move him. As a result, he was buried below the tomb, and there's no way to get to him now because it's all protected by concrete. His wife and children are above ground in the catacombs sealed off. A lot of statues of Lincoln are here. There's ones of his time as a soldier, and replicas of famous ones in parks. Have to check this out if you're around here. It's located in Oak Ridge Cemetery and is free admission to go in and look. This won't take too long to go through. read more

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I didn't ever think of giving a review on a tomb ever, however this location and history behind it as one of our country's best leader's is a sight to see. It was way more interesting than I would have imagined. The staff was very knowledgeable and pleasant natured. I ride from Washington to his final resting place is quite notable for the time this all took place. It made me feel like this wasn't that long ago and how well they thought through this process of his burial is such a dignified way. Most notable place to visit and nice to pay homage to one of USA's leader's from back in the day! Great for all adults and kids of any age, history is how we learn. read more

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Impressive both on the outside with a large bronze head and obelisk, and on the inside with beautiful marble and bronze statues within - Lincoln's Tomb is definitely worth a visit if you're in Springfield to honor the country's 16th president. There are plenty of signs and plaques throughout to help visitors understand the history and significance behind each item and the burial room is impressive with its marble and golf leaf design. read more

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This is a must-see for all history lovers and Illinois residents. This is where the 16th president of the United States lies. I went here many years ago on my elementary school field trip but found it much less crowded this time around. There are bathrooms located next to the parking lot. The parking lot is on the side of the tomb and behind a house that belonged to the caretaker and there are no clear signs on how to enter. The entrance is just behind the bust of Lincoln in front of his tomb. The tradition is to rub his nose for good luck. After doing this, you can enter the mausoleum and see statues of Lincoln at various stages of his life. Then you go into the area where the former president and most of his family are buried. There is a helpful tour guide inside the front door. This is a stop that should be included on all trips to Springfield. read more

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This beautiful tomb is located in a picturesque cemetery of rolling hills and ornate familial monuments. Try to visit when you have time to explore the grounds. The tomb is an immaculate building full of gleaming marble. You walk the circular hallway and admire the statues paying homage to Lincoln's life. You arrive to the back of the circular building where his wife and two of their sons are also laid to rest. There is a wall behind which Lincoln's vault is located. The building is heated in the winter which was very nice since I visited on a cold day. If you're by the area, don't miss stopping by this impressive tomb. read more

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It was good to be here on a grey dreary day. Adds to solemnity. Well done tomb for our greatest President. Go in through the single brass door in front that is not marked. read more

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We did the quick tour of the Lincoln Tomb (outside only) but it's really beautiful as is the Oak Ridge Cemetery. It's extremely tall and you can see the top of it from a long distance away. I highly recommend at least doing a drive by of the tomb if nothing else. It was kind of the end to our day of Abraham Lincoln and felt appropriate. read more

Pretty cool monument and burial site for a pretty cool president and his family. Staff guarding the tomb are nice. I had to go to Springfield super often one summer for medical appointments and almost every time we stopped by President Lincoln's tomb. It's a nice memorial to an amazing president and every time I would go in, someone was standing at the entrance and told me, "Welcome to the tomb." Which I liked a lot for some reason. It's just a bizarre and somber sentence I guess. There are lots of things to see inside and outside of the tomb, and I highly recommend you visit to see it and remember President Lincoln. read more

A moving, somber experience to be in the presence of a great man during a most critical time of our young fractured nation. Lincoln bore the shattering sorrows of his own personal loss and national division with dignity, wisdom, compassion and resolve. Every school child should walk through Abe's life history of magnificent sacrifice, service, courage and vision to learn how fortunate we are to have had President Abraham Lincoln among our greatest leaders. read more

it's a spot that will never change no matter your age so much history fills the area . The design gives so much honor to President Lincoln read more

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Not your average burial site, Lincoln's Tomb is well worth visiting. Located after ascending a hill to enter a public cemetery, you can't miss the towering and ornate stone monument that marks the spot. But the journey does not end there. One must next locate the entrance of a block building, enter, and follow the marble-lined trail inside, passing various statues of the sixteenth U.S. President in various poses that celebrate the numerous occupations he practiced prior to his ascendance to the presidency. Then a visitor will reach a large guarded open area with a smaller marble monument placed just ahead of where Abraham Lincoln is buried several feet below the floor, in close proximity to his interred wife and two of his sons. It is a moment for reverence and a time to reflect on the greatness of this man while fully comprehending that his bones rest in a recess just below. In the open air outside stands a bronze bust of Lincoln's head whose shiny nose, like John Harvard's toe in Harvard Yard, has been burnished by thousands of touches seeking to bring one good luck. Of course I, too, touched it. read more

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With the news of President Bush's death coming just a few hours prior; it seemed fitting to be at the tomb of Abraham Lincoln. A mild but gray overcast December day set a somber tone. The location is easy to get to from the interstate with signs pointing the way. Setting on a slight hill in a well maintained Springfield cemetery, a tall obelisk rises from a structure that house a circular marble corridor that takes you though a series of statuary of Lincoln and leads to a large granite box with Lincolns name carved on it. This sets 10 feet above Lincolns actual body. It is a moving experience to see first hand while contemplating how this mans decisions and perseverance profoundly changed the course of history. There is no admission but donations are welcomed to assist the state of Illinois in maintaining the site. read more

Lincoln Tomb - Landmarks & Historical Buildings Near Me - Springfield, Illinois

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We went here with the BSA Scouts on one of our camping trips. This was a great experience. Not much to say, it is a tomb but it is well maintained the staff are friendly and knowledgeable. The cemetery has other famous figures in it. All in all it was a good trip. I would budget an hour to and hour and a half to visit here. read more

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An impressive site to visit. This is located about 10 minutes from the museum. Need to use a car to get to from rest of the sites. There is parking and a restroom near the tomb. The tomb is heated. Due to COVID-19 there is someone out front tracking the number of visitors. read more

Lincoln Tomb - Landmarks & Historical Buildings Near Me - Springfield, Illinois

An amazing and very well done tribute by the state and Springfield to honor our President. The cemetery grounds are beautiful and walking up to the Monument I was awestruck at the massive size of it all. There is a bust outside that everyone goes up to to touch the nose and it is supposed to be good luck. The nose is shinny from being rubbed. You can go inside to see the tomb itself. It is a very fitting recognition for such a great man. His wife and sons are there as well. There are replicas of the many bronze statues of him around the country. read more

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Beautiful place for a beautiful human. Clean well maintained and very solemn. Docent was knowledgeable and being winter we practically had the place to ourselves. Walked to the site of his first and second tombs, also visited the war memorials in the cemetery. Few small signs outside about the history could be better done but for more than 100 years old it's impressive site. read more

Lincoln Tomb - Landmarks & Historical Buildings Near Me - Springfield, Illinois

We ended our President Lincoln day with a visit to his tomb. It was worth the quick drive. read more

Lincoln Tomb - Tomb - Landmarks & Historical Buildings Near Me - Springfield, Illinois

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It is what you would expect. Only outside ground level views. Very historic and well maintained

Beautiful place to visit and wonderful staff! We had questions after walking through and the gentleman at the door was more than polite and knowledgeable in answering our questions! read more

Lincoln Tomb - Landmarks & Historical Buildings Near Me - Springfield, Illinois

If you understand the impact of this great man and are in the area, it is only fitting to visit this sight. For me, it was awe-inspiring. The tomb is so reverently designed. It was quite the experience to stand quietly before the resting remains of America's greatest President. I hope to return one day. Also, be sure to check out the Roy Bertelli tomb not far from the Lincoln Tomb and learn his story. I think Mr. Lincoln would have gotten a kick and been honored knowing Mr. Bertelli's accordion rest in peace near him. read more

An impressive site and worth the trip. It isn't far from the Lincoln Museum & Library. It is beautiful but busy with many visitors and school groups. It is wheelchair accessible with handicapped parking (somewhat limited). We would suggest going early to avoid crowds. There are volunteers / staff on site but not much info is provided -- best to read up on the site and history prior to your visit. We were somewhat surprised to hear some staff members talking loudly and laughing very loudly after we went inside to view the burial chamber. Their voices echoed throughout the area for several minutes and it was disconcerting as this is a burial site. If the staff don't model proper etiquette there is no hope for visitors to know how to behave. Still a great place to visit. read more

A must see when in Springfield, Illinois. A marvelous structure and a very powerful experience when inside. While it is a tomb, a walk through the passage alone makes your mind step back into time and think about how far the nation has come in so many ways and how he shaped a nation as president. read more

Lincoln Tomb - Lincoln's Tomb, Oak Ridge Cemetery, Springfield, Illinois. Picture by Tracy Ames - Landmarks & Historical Buildings Near Me - Springfield, Illinois

Can't explain why, but my 9 year old artist decided to sit down and start drawing a picture of one of the statues inside. I decided to sit down next to him. There was no one else but us in the hallway. The cool marble and absolute silence were soothing in the nicest of ways. I sat staring at him wondering what was going through his mind. He focused on Lincoln's hair and face for a long time. Simply magical. Lincoln would be honored. read more

Lincoln Tomb - My 9-year-old son drawing President Lincoln. - Landmarks & Historical Buildings Near Me - Springfield, Illinois

Located inside of the beautiful Oak Ridge Cemetery, you will find the final resting place of Abraham Lincoln. It's not hard to miss, you will see it as soon as you enter the cemetery. Also, it is free! The sculpture itself is massive, very pretty. There is a large bust of Lincoln's face that you are supposed to rub the nose of for luck. We'll see how that works out for me! There isn't much to do here beside look at the tomb, so you won't be here long unless you choose to stay and wander around the cemetery. Worth visiting if you are in Springfield, IL! read more

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Picture do not do this place justice, the shear magnitude is amazing. Be sure to go inside, I've heard from several people they didn't know you could go in. It's simple, with long halls but the feeling of being in a tomb has a serene feeling that I've never had before as I walked along the silent marble hallways. I wish we could have been allowed up the stairs, not sure why that feature wasn't open but from the looks of the weeds growing on top, it seems it has been shut down for quite awhile. Additionally, you can see Lincoln's first resting place in this same cemetery just down the hill from here. read more

Lincoln Tomb - Landmarks & Historical Buildings Near Me - Springfield, Illinois

If you are visiting Springfield, this is a must-see. Wonderful monument and memorial to Lincoln and his family, and his/their sacrifice.

Lincoln's Funeral Train: On April 21, 1865, a train carrying Lincoln and his deceased son Willie (who had died in 1862 of typhoid fever; 11 y.o.) started its adventure from Washington DC to Springfield, IL. It traveled through 180 cities/7 states. At each stop, Lincoln's coffin was removed, placed on a horse drawn hearse, and shown for public viewing. It was a 2-3 week long funeral procession. Lincoln was buried in Oak Ridge Cemetery in Springfield, IL; however, instead of being "laid to rest", his body was moved 17 times and casket opened 5 times before he received his final resting place THIRTY SIX years later inside a steel cage beneath 2 tons of concrete piled 10 ft high over his coffin. In 1876, a mobster named Big Jim recruited 4 men to help him steal Abraham Lincolns body for a ransom of $200,000. He didn't know that 2 of the men he recruited were actually secret agent officers. Concerned with other potential grave robbers, the tombs caretakers decided to safeguard his body. They moved the coffin, covered it with lumber, and swore to secrecy. They called themselves the "The Lincoln Guard of Honor." His body, along with his wife's, was moved a few more times. Robert Lincoln was the one who finally laid his father in his permanent resting place in 1901. Random Fact: right after his assassination Army Surgeons performed an autopsy of the G.S.G in Lincoln's head at the White House. The removed his entire brain. While examining it, the bullet slipped out. read more

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"Now, he belongs to the ages." An iconic quote from Edwin M. Stanton regarding one of the most important figures in American history. This quote is also inscribed within the room of President Lincoln's sarcophagus. President Lincoln, is of course buried several feet beneath the sarcophagus under tons of cement. One of the few tombs that you can hear a pin drop within the inside of it based on the reverence and respect paid toward Abraham Lincoln, 150 years after his tragic death. Outside of the tomb is an imposing obelisk adorned with statues, while toward the front entrance, a large bust of the president's face gazes upon the vast acreage of Oak Ridge cemetery's residents. There is a superstition that if you rub the nose of the bust, you'll receive good luck. This is quite evident for many folks, since the nose has been rubbed smooth over the years. There is a sufficient amount of parking on the left side of the tomb. It appears that the viewing areas both within and outside of the tomb close at 5 PM now. Oak Ridge cemetery is located about 3-4 miles from the Abraham Lincoln presidential library in Springfield, and is slightly off the beaten path. The path that my GPS took me through appeared to be mostly residential areas until you see a brown sign with white lettering "Lincoln Tomb" on the side of one street. If traveling through Springfield, this tomb for President Lincoln and his family is a must-see. read more

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