Review Visit: March 11th, 2014…read more To quote my friend; "It's not even covered!" Now, to be fair and to preface this blog post, we did stop by after it received some storm damage. So the state it was in when we visited is not a representation of what it actually looks like. The low score is from my initial visit. Should I happen to make it back, I will update the score and post new photos to reflect what it really presents. Looking into it for this blog post, I would rather like to see it in it's former glory as it looks really cool! Okay, so with all that in mind, my friends and I left Springfield after a day of exploring. On the way home, we saw the sign for this covered wagon. I asked everyone if they wanted to stop and check it out. They didn't care... so 10 minutes later, we find ourselves looking at the wagon... or the damaged wagon. As stated above, it seemed to have received some storm damage and was in the process of being restored, so it was in really bad shape. But we had some fun taking goofy photos in front of it. It was muddy out, so we couldn't explore around the area too much. I have visited Lincoln, IL a few times since this photo was taken, so next time I am down there, I hope to have new/better photos of the wagon. It really does look cool from seeing other people's online photos. Plus, it's a nod to Illinois and the USA's history since it has Abraham Lincoln on it. The link to the website provided below is not to the Wagon's actual website... because it does not have one. But I do like Atlas Obscura, so I linked to their website. That way there is some reference material if you are interested in learning more about the wagon.

Exactly as advertised, this is the World's Largest Covered Wagon. It's worth a quick stop on your…read moredrive along Route 66 to take a fun picture as it's located off the main road in a large parking lot so you can feel free to slowly take as many pictures as you need. It's free to visit and not too far off the highway.

I was just passing thru Springfield but i HAD to stop by and take a pic of this. It was bigger than…read moreI thought it was going to be. It is very well maintained too. As you can see it doesn't have the cover which is understandable because it was still winter/spring time when I was there. I hope to go there soon!

From the owner: Tourism and information center all about Logan County with deep roots in Abe Lincoln and Route 66.read more

I usually do not write about elected officials as a matter of personal policy, but my experiences…read morewith Bradley Hauge (the current state's attorney as of 2020) have been an interesting and uplifting experience that I feel is worth sharing. To sum this up: in the media, you constantly hear about what the public expects out of elected officials and how they fall short of those expectations. Bradley Hauge not only meets the expectations of what you would want from a state's attorney, but exceeds them. I originally called his office to ask a question about something, and I was treated horribly by one of his employees. The way the man had spoken to me made me believe that it was Mr. Hauge himself, and he was so rude that I originally wrote a scathing review over that experience. When Mr. Hauge found out about this, he requested to talk to me over the phone to discuss the matter. And that got my attention. When he called, it was obvious that he wasn't the employee I had spoken with. He immediately struck me as pleasant to speak with, and he not only apologized for the actions of his employee but ALSO TOOK RESPONSIBILITY FOR HIS ACTIONS. Oh. My. Gawd. Look, I don't want to write a novel so I'm going to be blunt and sum this up: my own father was the state's attorney of White County, Illinois, from 1992 to 1996, and from childhood I've seen many state's attorneys come and go. I was an office manager for him for almost six years later as well. I've seen state's attorneys come and go; the point I'm trying to make is that I have spoken to a lot of government officials, attorneys, judges, etc. over the years and Mr. Hauge is the best one I've ever dealt with. He's earned this positive review from me, and he's earned an exception to my rule of not giving out reviews concerning elected officials (as I mentioned at the start of this review).

The drive from Chicago to Springfield is a pretty boring one. There is not much to see while…read moredriving down I-55. On the way home we decided to see a few roadside attractions to break up the monotony. Be sure to put this into your GPS because you'll see one sign on the highway about eight miles from the exit and no more. It is not difficult to find or to get to. There is a parking lot, as it sits just in front of the Best Western Lincoln Inn. This makes for an interesting sight to see and a piece of conversation on your drive. The website description on the explore Illinois website perfectly describes what you'll see: "The Railsplitter Covered Wagon is recognized by the Guinness Book of World Records as the largest covered wagon in the world. A statue of Abe Lincoln reading a law book sits in the huge wooden wagon, which stands 24 feet tall." If you have the time, this is a good way to spend it.

This is just a review of the exterior, we were trying to hit a few sites on the drive home from…read moreSpringfield and had been inspired by all the Lincoln sites, so why not stop for dinner in Lincoln? There is a square of restaurants and businesses around this courthouse which was lovingly glowing in the sunset. The history is evocative and it was closed to go inside when we were there, but it is a "1905 Neo-Classical building features a stained glass dome, the longest-serving courtroom in Illinois, a mosaic of the state seal, a statue of Abraham Lincoln and murals of Logan County."

They deserve ZERO STARS! I made an appointment online with this business for a Notary. I paid $10…read moreto reserve their services. I receive a reminder of my appointment by text the day before. No one showed. No one called. I had my witnesses waiting. I texted the phone number about my appointment and my $10 fee I paid to reserve the appointment. I have NEVER heard back. DO NOT WASTE YOUR TIME. DO NOT USE CENTRAL Illinois notary service and imaging! Please see my attached screenshots for proof of me not being a scam artist as called by the owner. AS of 1/4/26 I've not heard back from owner about my refund.

From the owner: Founded in 2023, Central Illinois Notary & Imaging has delivered reliable, on-demand notary, loan…read moresigning, and imaging services throughout Illinois—right at your doorstep. We're proud to now offer LiveScan Fingerprinting as part of our growing list of services. And we’re not stopping there! Coming soon: home inspections, scale calibrations, and professional certifications, all accessible here and through our upcoming site, CINInspections.com. Our current services include: Notary (In-Person, Remote & Electronic) Loan Signing Services LiveScan Fingerprinting Passport Photos 360° 3D Home Tours (with aerial views) Special Occasion Photography We proudly serve individuals, real estate professionals, financial institutions, law firms, nursing homes, and businesses across Sangamon County and beyond. Our owner is also a licensed real estate agent with The Real Estate Group in Springfield, IL. Availability is always kept up-to-date through our online booking system. We schedule our services around client appointments and phone requests, ensuring prompt, convenient service tailored to your needs. At Central Illinois Notary & Imaging, we’re committed to delivering exceptional service with a personal touch—every time.