Historic Sites
Governor Oglesby Mansion
The Governor Oglesby Mansion is an 1870s Italianate style home of 3-time Illinois Governor, U.S. Senator and Civil War General Richard J. Oglesby.
The mansion is located at 421 W. William St in Decatur, IL.
Homestead Prairie Farm
Walk into the past to an exciting place where the days before the Civil War live on. Homestead Prairie Farm is built around the Trobaugh-Good House located at Rock Springs Conservation Area. It has been restored to let visitors explore rural life on the Grand Prairie of Illinois in 1860 and was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1996.
Bethel School
Step back in time in a one room country school. The name “Bethel School” has a long history in Friends Creek Township.
Bethel School is located at Friends Creek Conservation Area.
Paris-Springfield Road
The Paris-Springfield Road was one of the earliest roads in Central Illinois. The Paris-Springfield Road’s most famous traveler was Abraham Lincoln. Lincoln and his extended family used the road when they made their first Illinois home in Macon County in March of 1830.
The Paris-Springfield Road is located at Sand Creek Conservation Area.
Rock Springs Bottling Plant
In the early 1900’s, Charles M. Parker started the Rock Springs Bottling Plant, providing local bottled water from the Rock Spring source in Decatur, IL. Although the plant only lasted a short time, artifacts from this business have survived including a bottle crate and half gallon bottle owned by the conservation district.
Sangamon River Mill
Shortly after the first pioneers arrived in Macon County mills were built to grind their harvests of grain. One of the first was Miller’s Mill.
Today Miller’s Mill is gone but when the river is very low, traces of its dam can be seen by taking a hike along the River Trail at Rock Springs Conservation Area.
