Lincoln-Douglas Debate

You may remember that we visted the Lincoln-Douglas debate site in Jonesboro, Illinois, and we have also visited the debate site at Quincy. Continuing our quest to visit all of the Lincoln-Douglas debate sites 1, we also stopped at the Lincoln-Douglas debate site in Charleston, Illinois, which included a small museum. The Charleston debate between Abraham Lincoln and Stephen A. Douglas was held on September 18, 1858, just three days after the Jonesboro debate. There were around 12,000 people in attendance. The area that was at one time filled with 12,000 people is now a quiet corner of the area fairgrounds, and we were the only ones there when we stopped in.

Statues of Abraham Lincoln and Stephen A. Douglas mark the site of the Lincoln-Douglas debate in Jonesboro, Illinois. During a trip through Illinois in December 2023, Laura and I stopped by the Lincoln-Douglas debate site in Jonesboro. As you may know, we both like history, and Abraham Lincoln is one of my favorite subjects. This site was not too far off of our path, and it was great to be able to stop by for a few minutes.