Preserving the History and Heritage of Menard County.
Discover the people, places, and events that define Menard County’s rich heritage and preserve its legacy for future generations. Menard County Heritage Society is dedicated to celebrating local history through education, preservation, storytelling, and community engagement.
Welcome to Menard County Heritage Society
Menard County Heritage Society is a nonprofit organization formed to preserve, promote, and celebrate the history and heritage of Menard County.
Our work is rooted in the belief that local history should remain accessible, meaningful, and connected to the people who call this region home. From early settlement and civic growth to historic landmarks and family stories, Menard County holds a legacy worth protecting.
Our mission is to become a trusted source for local history and create meaningful connections between the past, present, and future of our community.
Featured Heritage Story
Abraham Lincoln and Menard County
One of Menard County’s most recognized historical connections is its relationship with Abraham Lincoln. He lived in New Salem from 1831 to 1837, helped establish the county’s boundary lines, surveyed Petersburg, and later handled hundreds of legal matters tied to the county seat.
Here, he worked, learned, served, and began developing the character and public presence that would later shape his national legacy.
Lincoln’s presence and influence remain an important chapter in local history and provide an opportunity to explore how national stories connect to local communities.
Menard County Has Many Stories to Tell
Explore More of Menard County Heritage
Menard County’s history includes local institutions, early settlement, civic life, and the historic places that continue to connect residents and visitors to the county’s past.
Explore the communities, traditions, places, and people that helped shape the county over generations.
Historic Places
Marbold Farmstead
Located in Greenview, the Marbold Farmstead reflects Menard County’s agricultural history and the legacy of families who shaped the region through farming, land stewardship, and community life.
Edgar Lee Masters Home
In Petersburg, the Edgar Lee Masters Home preserves the local connection to one of the region’s most recognized literary figures and adds an important cultural dimension to Menard County history.
Indian Point Presbyterian Church
Located near Athens, Indian Point Presbyterian Church stands as an enduring religious and community landmark that reflects the county’s deep historical roots.
Frackelton State Bank
The Frackelton State Bank in Petersburg represents an important part of the county seat’s commercial and civic history and helps tell the story of local enterprise and public life.
Long Nine Museum
Housed in the historic Col. Matthew Rogers Building on Main Street, the oldest structure in Athens where a celebration banquet for the “Long Nine” took place.
People of Menard County
Peter McCue
Peter McCue, remembered as an influential Quarter Horse sire, adds an important agricultural and equestrian chapter to the history of Menard County.
Harry Lamkin
Harry Lamkin is part of a distinctive local story through his connection to a wintering circus home, adding another unique layer to the county’s heritage.
Native American Heritage
Menard County also has an important Native American history. Long before the county developed as a civic and political community, the region was home to Native peoples including the Kickapoo, Sauk, Fox, and Potawatomi, whose presence remains an essential part of the area’s history.
Whether you are interested in local history, Abraham Lincoln’s connection to Menard County, or preserving community heritage, we welcome your interest and support.
Get involved
Help preserve and share Menard County’s history.
Heritage preservation depends on people who care about keeping local stories, records, and places accessible for future generations.
Support our mission through participation, partnerships, and community involvement.
