Mount Pulaski
 Founded in 1836

Population: (1880) - 1,125; (1890) - 1,357; (1900) - 1,643; (1950) - 1700; (1980) - 1800; (2010) - 1700

Courthouse hours:  Tuesday - Saturday (12 - 4 pm)

Welcome to Mount Pulaski


At the April, 1846 election, citizens of Logan County voted to move the county seat from Postville to Mount Pulaski.  In 1847, local citizens, craftsmen, and merchants donated materials, labor, and $2,700 to construct the building.  An addition $300 was supplemented by a county appropriation.  The building is an example of early Greek Revival Architecture.

The new courthouse of the Logan County Seat was ready for occupancy in the Spring of 1848, when the county records were loaded into wagons at Postville and moved to these new quarters.  

Mount Pulaski was  the Logan County Seat from the Spring of 1848 to November of 1854.  Abraham Lincoln practiced law in this courthouse while serving on the 8th Judicial Circuit during the majority of the Spring and Fall sessions each year from 1849 to 1854 - he was still serving out his congressional term (1847-1848).

In 1852, the Alton & Sangamon railroad extended its line from Springfield, through Logan County, to Bloomington.  A town site was laid out in 1853 on the extension right of way, one mile from old Postville.  Its proprietors named it Lincoln, in honor of their attorney, Abraham Lincoln.

 

Mount  Pulaski  Courthouse
 

The Mount Pulaski Courthouse is an
Illinois
State Historic Site, located on
a hill in the center of the town square.


"1854" Cast Iron Tombstone Trial
Re-enactment


The courthouse is open:
 Tuesday - Saturday (
12 - 4 pm
)


Visitors to
Mount Pulaski Courthouse

 

In February, 1853, these proprietors secured the passage of a legislative bill submitting to the voters of Logan County the proposition of again changing the county seat, this time from Mount Pulaski to this new railroad town site of Lincoln.  However, due to subsequent litigations, the actual transfer of the county seat and its records did not take place until after the fall session of 1854.

During the following years, the courthouse served as city offices, school house, community center and post office.  Today, the Mount Pulaski Courthouse has been restored and is listed on the National Register of Historic Places
.

The courtroom on the second floor has the original wooden floor upon which Abraham Lincoln once paced during his law practice, here.  Both the inside and outside of the courthouse has been restored to its 1847 appearance - which include 6 chimneys, numerous large double-hung 12-pane windows, many hanging wrought-iron tapered-candle chandeliers, period wall adornments, period furniture and nine wood-burning stoves through-out. An 1848 United States Flag proudly hangs high on the front courtroom wall behind the witness stand - California was not yet a state. In the rear of the courtroom is a small jury room on one side and a small judge’s chamber on the other side.

           

Looking For Lincoln Wayside Sign
2009 A. Lincoln Bi-Centennial Grant

Mt. Pulaski Welcome Sign
Rt. 121 & McDonald St.

Abraham Lincoln Mural

Mural Construction Project

Mural Light Construction