Metamora Courthouse
Posted by: 
KG1960
N 40° 47.494 W 089° 21.754
16T E 300671 N 4518305
A courthouse built in 1845 where Abraham Lincoln practiced law.
Waymark Code: WMMNM
Location: Illinois, United States
Date Posted: 08/19/2006
Views: 14
The Metamora Courthouse was built in 1845 and served as the center of Woodford County government until the county seat was moved to Eureka in 1896. It is one of two surviving courthouses on the historic Eighth Judicial Circuit traveled by Abraham Lincoln. As a member of the traveling bar of the Eighth Judicial Circuit, Lincoln came to Metamora, then the seat of Woodford County, to attend court in the courthouse. David Davis, Robert G. Ingersoll and Adlai E. Stevenson were others who practiced here.
In 1978 the Courthouse was added to the National Register of Historic Places.
The first floor of the two-story brick structure contains a central hall flanked by two exhibit rooms, one displaying artifacts of early local history, the other with exhibits describing the 1850s court system and Lincoln's life on the Eighth Judicial Circuit. On the second floor, the former courtroom and two small chambers are furnished to represent the era during which Lincoln practiced law.
Visitors may take guided tours of the building or view the rooms and exhibits on their own. A ten-minute video history of the building, which includes images and interpretation of the second floor, is available for viewing. The building’s first floor is disabled accessible, the second floor is not.
Over the years, visiting hours varied. At the time of this writing, they were Wednesday through Sunday, 1 - 5 p.m.
Street address:
113 E. Partridge
Metamora, IL USA
61548
County / Borough / Parish: Woodford
Year listed: 1978
Historic (Areas of) Significance: Pre-Civil War courthouse. Abraham Lincoln practiced law here.
Periods of significance: 1845 - 1857
Historic function: courthouse
Current function: museum
Privately owned?: no
Season start / Season finish: From: 01/01/2006 To: 12/31/2006
Hours of operation: From: 1:00 PM To: 5:00 PM
Primary Web Site: [Web Link]
Secondary Website 1: [Web Link]
Secondary Website 2: Not listed
National Historic Landmark Link: Not listed
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Visit Instructions:
Please give the date and brief account of your visit. Include any additional observations or information that you may have, particularly about the current condition of the site. Additional photos are highly encouraged, but not mandatory.