The Abraham Lincoln National Heritage Area (ALNHA) is a 43-county area of Central Illinois designated by Congress in 2008. The ALNHA works in partnership with the National Park Service and tells the stories of Lincoln’s life and times in Illinois. It is the only National Heritage Area named for an American President.

Vision Statement: To be the voice for the Abraham Lincoln National Heritage Area.

Mission Statement:  The Looking for Lincoln Heritage Coalition is a not for profit organization dedicated to working collaboratively with local, state, and national partners across the Abraham Lincoln National Heritage Area to tell the quality stories of Abraham Lincoln’s life and times to provide high quality experiences for visitors, economic opportunities for communities and to improve the quality of life for residents.

By: – developing and overseeing projects/programs;

– coordinating participation and work of partners;

– applying Abraham Lincoln National Heritage Area guidelines,criteria and standards to the work of the communities and partners.

In artist Don Gray’s rendition, Lincoln and Douglas dramatically address the crowd gathered to hear them. News that the great Senator Douglas would appear in Ottawa caused a great sensation. Politics was more than a spectator sport for men of the day, and political rallies were festive events filled with medicine hawkers, hog roasts, parades and lively debate off the speakers’ platform as well as on it.