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The main building, occupied by the LCTB houses a
lot of information about local tourist attractions as well as a
mini museum that helps visitors get a taste of what they might
experience when they go to the various locations throughout our
county.
An interesting fact that some may not know -the Depot is open to
the public through the week and during the summer tourist months
also on Saturday. LCTB Executive Director Morgan Gleason and
Assistant Director Cindy Smith welcome visitors and are happy to
answer questions about various tourist attractions throughout
the county.
The pride and joy of the LCTB Board is the life-sized statue of
Abraham Lincoln that stands as a focal point inside the Depot.
The statue is on long term loan to the LCTB from the State Bank
of Lincoln. It is the same statue that stood for many years in
the lobby of the Sangamon Street branch of the bank.
While today, the 1910 construction building is in perfect
condition and speaks boldly to the history of our community,
such has not always been the case.
The building was built in 1910 and the floor plan then looked
almost exactly as it is today. The depot was, obviously, a train
station, and the building served in that capacity for many
years.
However, the day came that the need for a large station in
Lincoln was no longer necessary and the depot closed.
Then came the period of time when the station was purchased by a
private party and became a restaurant and bar. During that
period of history for the Depot, the eatery was very popular.
The foot print of the building was changed dramatically when two
old Pullman passenger train cars were added and two cabooses.
The addition of the rail cars added to the restaurant space. A
structure connected the main building to the baggage building
and that area became the restaurant kitchen.
A wood deck was added on the railroad side of the building and
the floor in the north half of the building was raised to match
the height of the floors of the rail cars.
The Depot restaurant was a great place to visit, and many
remember the toy train that circled the interior of the building
on rails close to the ceiling.
Though the restaurant had its heyday, that day eventually passed
and the popular eatery closed for good.
For quite some time the depot stood empty and deteriorating
inside and out. Then, came the high speed rail program and plans
to rebuild the railroad corridor from Alton to Chicago.
The federally funded program was administered by the Illinois
Department of Transportation in conjunction with Amtrak and
Union Pacific Railroad. The plan included double rails from
Alton to Chicago and the building or restoration of train
stations along the way.
The state purchased the depot property from the private
individual and entered into an agreement with the city of
Lincoln pertaining to the future of the location. IDOT would
restore the building, then turn the ownership of the entire
property over to the city of Lincoln. The city would maintain
the property, including the Amtrak waiting station. The larger
building was the city’s to do with as they saw fit.
The completed project was amazing. With the exception of a few
minor changes inside the buildings, and the addition of public
restrooms, the buildings are very much the same as they would
have been in 1910.
Over the years, the Lincoln Depot has seen some very
distinguished visitors, including a few United States
Presidents. However, our beloved 16th President Abraham Lincoln
was not one of them. The depot was built several years after the
assignation of Lincoln.
Young Abraham Lincoln was part of the survey team for the
railway tracks and later in his life did make stops in Lincoln
at the train station, but at that time, the station was on the
other side of the tracks.
Also,it was on that lot in 1853 that Abraham Lincoln christened
the city of Lincoln with the juice of a watermelon.
An interesting fact that some may not know, is that the
greenspace at the depot is actually a park. In 1953, the area
was named Centennial Park during the 100th Anniversary of the
city. On the south and west edge of the property a time capsule
was buried during that centennial, with instructions for the
capsule to be dug up on the 200th anniversary of the city.
A large stone marks the spot where the capsule is buried. During
the restoration of the property, the capsule was dug up and
entrusted to the care of the city. Then when all the work was
completed, the capsule was buried again.
Fifty years after the centennial, a second capsule was buried
just a few feet from the first, also with instructions that it
be opened at the 200th anniversary. A stone marker also shows
where the capsule will be found in 2053.
There is a third stone marker in the park that was added much
more recently. A young man working to earn his Eagle Scout
learned that the large tree in the center of the park area is a
Korean Crabapple that was planted in honor of those who served
and sacrificed during the Korean War. He went to the city while
the depot was still being resurrected by the state and sought
permission to place a memorial stone near the tree. The city
welcomed the addition to the park with the condition that the
stone would not be installed until the restoration project was
complete.
The tree itself is surrounded by a steel and wooden bench. The
sidewalks crossing through the park all lead to the tree, where
visitors can sit and enjoy the shade and choose to gaze on the
depot, watch the traffic pass by, or count the cars of the
trains that pass through.
The depot is walking distance from several other interesting
aspects of the city, and in close proximity to downtown
retailers. Its location is perfect for those who come in on the
train to spend a day exploring our fair town on foot.
Across the street is the Logan County Genealogical and
Historical Society, another wonderful place to visit if one is
interested in our local heritage and history.
While the goal of the Eye Spy game has been to give folks
someplace to go and enjoy outside, those who wish to put on a
face mask and expand their exploration would definitely benefit
from stopping inside at the depot, then crossing over to the LCG&HS.
So, now that you know more about this great location, if you
didn’t make your way there during the game, we hope you will be
sure to stop by sometime soon and enjoy all that the Depot and
Centennial Park have to offer.
[Nila Smith]
Find more details here:
Come play
“Eye Spy” with Lincoln Daily News |
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