Old Main at Knox College
2 South St., Galesburg, IL 61401
Historic Sites
Nowhere on the Knox campus are the history and the ideals of the College so intertwined with the modern-day work of faculty and students as in Old Main.
An American architectural landmark of the first order, Old Main's history is still very much alive in its offices, classrooms, and public spaces.
Old Main is the only existing site of one of the famous 1858 senatorial debates between Abraham Lincoln and Stephen Douglas and has been designated a National Historic Landmark by the U.S. Department of the Interior. It was through one of its east-facing windows that the future President of the United States climbed to reach the debate platform, where he is said to have quipped "At last I have gone through college." The very chair where Lincoln sat that day, the aptly named "Lincoln Chair," still sits in Old Main's Alumni Room to this day.
What's happening nearby...
Galesburg Railroad Days
Downtown Galesburg • Jun 26 – Jun 29 @ 10AM
Celebrating Galesburg's rich railroad history, Railroad Days is an annual summer festival that brings a carnival, entertainment, and railroad-themed events to the heart of the city,…
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Taste of Galesburg
Jul 17
Sample our local restaurants for a true "taste" of Galesburg!
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Great Balloon Race
Lake Storey • Jul 25 – Jul 27
20-25 hot air balloons flying over Galesburg, Il. during the last full weekend of July at Lake Storey Park, with "night glows" Friday and Saturday nights…
Read more about Great Balloon RaceYou might also be interested...
Corpus Christi Catholic Church
Galesburg
Corpus Christi, located at the NE corner South & Prairie Streets, was constructed in 1884 in the Victorian Gothic style of architecture with a 150' spire.…
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Carl Sandburg State Historic Site
Galesburg
Author-poet Carl Sandburg was born in the the three-room cottage at 331 E. Third Street in Galesburg on January 6, 1878.
Read more about Carl Sandburg State Historic Site
The Great House
Galesburg
The imposing columns at the head of Chambers Street is a wonderful relic of Galesburg's early years.
Read more about The Great House