Havana in Mason County, Illinois — The American Midwest (Great Lakes)
Lincoln and Douglas Speeches
Photographed by Jason Voigt, February 22, 2025
1. Lincoln and Douglas Speeches Marker
Inscription.
Lincoln and Douglas Speeches. . This mound was the site of major campaign addresses by Abraham Lincoln and Stephen A. Douglas during their campaign for U.S. Senate in 1858. Music, fireworks, banners, and parades characterized the campaign. After firing a cannon to assemble a crowd of one thousand, Douglas spoke here for several hours on August 13th, 1858. Half the crowd left to greet Abraham Lincoln at the landing several blocks to the south, as he arrived with a brass band on board. The flag draped steamboat "Senator". After spending the night with friends, Lincoln spoke for two hours in the grove on this mound on August 14th, highlighting his opposition to slavery and responding to Senator Douglas's claims. Lincoln remained in Havana for several days, visiting old friends and campaigning. On April 16th, he spoke at Bath, after renewing acquaintances all along the route. Lincoln departed on the Havana Ferry on August 17th., Abraham Lincoln was well known in Mason County. During the 1830's and 1840's, he surveyed and practiced law here, campaigned for other offices, and owned a Mason County farm. , This park has been the scene of social and recreational activities ever since it was donated by Havana pioneer Northrup J. Rockwell in 1849. The mound was crowned with a large bandstand near the beginning of the 20th century.
This mound was the site of major campaign addresses by Abraham Lincoln and Stephen A. Douglas during their campaign for U.S. Senate in 1858. Music, fireworks, banners, and parades characterized the campaign. After firing a cannon to assemble a crowd of one thousand, Douglas spoke here for several hours on August 13th, 1858. Half the crowd left to greet Abraham Lincoln at the landing several blocks to the south, as he arrived with a brass band on board. The flag draped steamboat "Senator". After spending the night with friends, Lincoln spoke for two hours in the grove on this mound on August 14th, highlighting his opposition to slavery and responding to Senator Douglas's claims. Lincoln remained in Havana for several days, visiting old friends and campaigning. On April 16th, he spoke at Bath, after renewing acquaintances all along the route. Lincoln departed on the Havana Ferry on August 17th.
Abraham Lincoln was well known in Mason County. During the 1830's and 1840's, he surveyed and practiced law here, campaigned for other offices, and owned a Mason County farm.
This park has been the scene of social and recreational activities ever since it was donated by Havana pioneer Northrup J. Rockwell in 1849. The mound was crowned with a large bandstand near the beginning of the 20th century.
Location. 40° 18.269′ N, 90° 3.828′ W. Marker is in Havana, Illinois, in Mason County. It is at the intersection of West Franklin Street and North Orange Street, on the right when traveling west on West Franklin Street. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 420 N Orange St, Havana IL 62644, United States of America. Touch for directions.
Regionally, this marker is in the Illinois River Valley. It is also in the American Midwest and in the Corn Belt. Globally, it is in North America, the Western Hemisphere, the Western World, and the Anglosphere. Historically, it finds itself in what was once the territory of the Mississippian Culture and also the Northwest Territory.
Credits. This page was last revised on March 11, 2025. It was originally submitted on March 11, 2025, by Jason Voigt of Glen Carbon, Illinois. This page has been viewed 160 times since then and 13 times this year. Photos:1, 2. submitted on March 11, 2025, by Jason Voigt of Glen Carbon, Illinois.
