Went there to cut up downed trees for firewood. They had put a notice out about free firewood so I went. Very friendly and helpful ,I haven't been there since I was in high-school, some buddies and I rode our bikes from Lincoln to the park back n the day,it was like a six hour ride
This was fun. It's much bigger than I expected. If you geocache this one is fun. It's interactive and you learn more than just what is written. There's a campground around the corner from the parking lot if you want to camp. I learned a lot and enjoyed it. We spent a couple hours just enjoying the colors of the trees and learning the history. Best part is it was free.
Campground is well kept and quiet but there is no privacy between spots. There are a few spots that back up to a public road and a bar. While those are not ideal, don’t let the bar scare you away from camping at the park.
I had the pleasure of spending several days here recently while working on a project. The area is beautiful and rich with history! The staff is very knowledgeable helpful, and friendly.
Very interesting, nice visitor center with displays and short film. Then you can visit the village. There were 2 guides in 2 of the cabins who knew a lot. There were signs in the other cabins. You couldn't go inside these but you look in, getting a good view. No tickets needed but donations accepted.
Very fun experience to see an 1830s era village with historic ties to Abe Lincoln. Costumed interpreters were stationed throughout, otherwise, there are many explanatory signs about the stores and homes. Nice visitor center with a movie and small museum, as well as gift shop and cafe. 2-2.5 hours seems good for a relaxed visit en route to Springfield.
The woods are also quite pretty, I believe there’s a campground as well.
Recommended!
Visiting Lincoln’s New Salem on a quiet Thursday morning felt like stepping into a time capsule — and I pretty much had the place to myself. The peacefulness added to the magic as I wandered through the restored pioneer village where a young Abraham Lincoln once lived, worked, and dreamed.
? The village is beautifully maintained, with historical buildings that have been lovingly restored after years of disrepair. Most were open to explore, and each one was filled with period furniture and decor that brought the 1830s frontier to life. You could almost hear the crackle of the hearth and the creak of wooden floorboards beneath boots.
??? Historical actors dressed in authentic period clothing added a layer of immersive storytelling. They were friendly, knowledgeable, and genuinely passionate about sharing Lincoln’s early life. From the blacksmith’s forge to the general store, each stop offered a glimpse into the world that shaped one of America’s most iconic leaders.
? The museum and information center were clean, well-organized, and full of fascinating exhibits. It’s clear that the staff take pride in preserving this treasure — and it shows.
? This site is a true gem of Illinois history and deserves a spot on every traveler’s bucket list. Whether you’re a history buff, a curious wanderer, or just looking for a peaceful escape, New Salem delivers.
#LincolnLegacy #NewSalemMagic #IllinoisHistory #BucketListStop #WalkWithLincoln #HistoricTreasure #BeyondTheRoad
Free Cool experience and information galore, visitor center is beautiful! It has paved pathways to exhibits and is not busy for a weekend. Food & Souvenirs also available decently priced.
Awesome historic site that’s well-kept and preserved. Sunday is a great time to go as the visitor center and restaurant are closed so it’s not busy at all. Highly recommended.
Had a great time revisiting New Salem. The last time I was here was over 30 years ago as a kid. It was a quiet week day, so not a lot of visitors. The museum was nicely curated. Cash donations accepted for entry. Worth the trip!
Fun little reconstructed villiage with lots of Lincoln facts! Picnic tables, clean restrooms. Pet friendly in the outdoor section. Free admission, donations accepted. Inside there are exhibits and a short film. Small restaurant and gift shop.
All I can say is wow! What a wonderful journey back in time. The volunteers do an amazing job with kids and adults alike. I love how they have done such an awesome job keeping it up and at the same time you feel like your back in time. Love it highly recommend!!
Always a great stop on the way to Springfield. Free parking. Donations accepted. Only one cicada spotted today ? Small gift shop and snacks are open in the building by the parking lot, to the right of the visitor center.
Such a beautiful peaceful part of history. The grounds are well kept & the property as well. Plenty of free parking & not far from Springfield. It's a trip through the history of Abraham Lincoln and his arrival in New Salem. It's a must see if you're in the area !
Amenities in main building are handicapped accessible and so are the indoor exhibits an separate gift shop. There are smooth kept up paths through the village. Buildings and furnishings are period like and interesting. I read A Team of Rivals just prior to my visit. This analysis of Lincoln made the visit mire interesting in that you see haw his early life made him the man who was a leader in difficult times with some of the best minds at the time. The exhibits are free, but donations are welcome. Closed Sun & Mon.
We were in Illinois for a family reunion and driving past New Salem. We saw the sign and I told my husband that New Salem was one of my favorite places on the planet. He pulled in! He told me there was no way he could drive by after I said that! We were there for 47 minutes lol It was Sunday and nothing was open, there were no demonstrations or dressed up folks but it was prob’ly the most peaceful, quiet, perfect visit of my life. Love New Salem. The park is accessible and yet feels like it’s in the middle of nowhere. It’s surprising there is not a restroom open at all times at the visitor center/entry area. The only downside of a wonderful visit.
Our group came into the visitors center from the parking lot, and we asked about the tours. First, we watched the 17 min movie in the theater, then went outside to walk in and through the different buildings. They had actors dressed up that you could ask questions to about Abe Lincolns stay there. After that, we took a stroll back inside the visitors center to walk through the museum of Abe Lincolns time spent in New Salem.
You can do all of the activities for free. However, there is a suggested $4/ person donation. The parking is free. There is room for RV's to park in the parking lot. This self guided tour takes about 2-4 hours depending on how much you want to soak in.
Make sure to dress appropriately for the weather as you are walking outdoors mostly. I did see people with dogs and strollers. There is an air-conditioned visitors center with a small museum inside. They have bathrooms in the visitors center and about halfway through the cabins.
I would suggest bringing your own water and snacks.. Although there is a water fountain in the visitors center. They do have picnic tables and pavilions to eat at outdoors.
A quiet walk through history while being educated. Visually appealing and at the same time showing son how much easier today is compared to the past. Friendly staff and loved the history and walk through time. Take time to check it out. You can take your time or zip through however a nice time if you appreciate the history and story of Lincoln and those who were part of the town during that time. May be free however please donate. Recommend 10 dollars for family. Please donate as well worth it and less expensive and worth it.
Took 5 grandchildren ages 6 to 14. They all enjoyed learning from the volunteers like the lady spinning wool into yarn & the blacksmith. Really enjoyed the children's house. They got to dress up in period clothing, prepare "meals" & "build" a log cabin.
This wasn't originally in our plans for our trip to Springfield. We met with some friends who were visiting their family outside of town. After lunch, they took us to this site. This is where Lincoln got his start as a junior surveyor. The gentleman who took us was also an expert and a part-time tour guide, so he gave us a brief tour. We were rushed since this was our third day, and we had to drive back home. (It was a long drive.) We spent about 45 minutes at New Salem.
Some of the homes and shops are original. Others were built in the same style as the rest of the town. We saw homes, farms, an ox-drawn mill, and other things. We only made it through about 1/3 of the site before we had to go. So, we only saw some of what we wanted, but we got a very good flavor of life in this town about 160 years ago.
It was a fascinating stop, and we're very happy we did this. The last building we saw was the mill. There is a great picture of the part where the Oxen powered the mill. Our guide was around when they showed the mill working the last time. He said it was so loud, and the pressure exerted by the Oxen was so great you could hear the thumping of their footsteps far away.
We stopped short of seeing one of two houses that were Lincoln's shops. I'm disappointed we didn't see either of them. There was one right across the road from the mill. We didn't realize it until we were leaving, and I took another look at the map.
If you visit Springfield, leave time to visit New Salem.
fun experience. the volunteers are very friendly and knowledgeable. be sure to check out the blacksmith and the various houses around. got to see some quilting and learn about medicine back then. the Lincoln artifacts were cool too
I love taking a day out of the busy week and explore the good ol' days from the early American years. Easy, and beautiful trails filled with history and sights to see. You can't help but take a picture of the beautiful scenery. I recommend going at the end of summer and the fall time.
The museum is filled with amazing pieces of history, facts about our 16th president from the beginning of his life and his great influence even after his death.
It's a perfect place to take a picnic in the nice casibos and picnic places scattered across the grand property. Enjoy!!!
Unfortunately the day we visited it was raining a bunch, so I didn’t see much of the village outside. The museum and movie were great. So much great information about Abraham Lincoln starting in his early years and through out his life. I didn’t know that he only had 1 year of formal education, and that he basically taught himself how to read. I also did not know that he read a friend’s law books and then took the bar to become a lawyer. Completely amazing! I highly recommend this as a place to visit to learn about Lincoln.
There are no tickets to buy, it is still donation upon entering. I love this place, a great place to get back to a simpler way of life and go back in time. If you love history, you will love this place too. The reenactors come everyday but was told most come on Wednesday and Friday. Learn about Abraham Lincoln life before politics,as a young man and the families that built this log cabin village. I miss them having the gardens planted as they did years ago. Still worth a visit. Campground is attached, very peaceful and clean restroom / shower houses. 200 sites 100 which have electricity. With dated playground. Can always find a spot!
Really enjoyed stopping here. This is the place that Lincoln spent 6 years of his early adult life, while he was deciding on a direction for his life. The buildings are replicas built on the exact spots the originals once stood. It was very interesting to see what it would have been like to live on the frontier at that time. Nice museum and visitors center also. Only a 30 minute drive from Springfield.
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