New House Museum Opens in Sterling, IL

The Lincoln Manahan Home
Sterling, IL

On Monday, July 18th a friend and I traveled to Sterling, IL to attend the Grand Opening of a new house museum.

In these times of budget cuts, many house museums-particularly in Illinois, have struggled to keep funding so that the public can be educated on the history of our region.  It is remarkable that the historical society in Sterling was able to aquire the home, and several buildings surrounding it and take on the project of restoring the home, and renewing the neighborhood.

We were very happy to witness the opening ceremony and meet the people involved in the restoration of the Lincoln-Manahan Home. They are very proud of the project and the impact it has had on the neighborhood.

Honest Abe in front of the
Lincoln Manahan Home

According to our tour guide, on July 18, 1856 Abraham Lincoln was visiting Sterling to speak at a rally for the Republican Party's first presidential candidate, John C. Fremont.  Lincoln was initially offered accomodations with another family in a larger home-but those plans fell through when the wife was injured in a horse accident.  Sheriff William Manahan offered his home to the future president as substitute lodging.  The Manahan family home was small, and there was not an extra bedroom for him to stay in.  Lincoln slept on the couch.  Because he was so tall they placed two chairs at the end of the couch to support his legs in an effort to make him more comfortable.

The home is nearly finished, and is very well done.  It was important to all involved in the project that the dedication be on the anniversary of Lincoln's visit to the home, so there are a few repairs yet to be completed.  The furniture in the home is not original, but is appropriate to the era and gives visitors a good idea of what life in the home was like in the 1850's.