Voting open for Illinois’ top historic site

Posted on April 24, 2018
The Illinois Bicentennial celebration continues with voting now open to determine Illinois’ best historic site. (Photo courtesy Facebook/Illinois Bicentennial)

By Illinois Radio Network

SPRINGFIELD – Illinois’ bicentennial best-of voters have a tough decision to make this week. What is Illinois’ most noteworthy historic site?

The latest Top 200 list includes Ronald Reagan’s boyhood home, Route 66, and Illinois’ old capitols in Springfield and Vandalia.

Chris Wills with the Illinois Historic Preservation Agency says there is, of course, some Lincoln history: Lincoln’s New Salem and Lincoln’s Home in Springfield.

“Lincoln’s home is a special place,” Wills said. “It’s the only home that he ever owned. It’s the spot where you can really connect with Lincoln the family man. Connect with Lincoln the individual, instead of Lincoln the great leader.”

Wills said the top historic sites list also includes French historical sites.

“Illinois was under French control for many years, and was a very important part of the French territory in the United State,” Wills said. “And so when you look back on the state’s early history, you see places like Fort de Chartres, Fort Kaskaskia, and Fort Massac.”

Voting is open until Friday at IllinoisTop200.com.

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