Lincoln Tomb State Historic Site

Lincoln's Tomb in Oak Ridge Cemetery is the final resting place of Abraham and Mary Todd Lincoln, along with three of their four sons. The monument, a 117-foot obelisk topped with a bronze statue of Lincoln, is one of the most visited sites in Illinois. The interior contains a burial chamber and several memorial rooms with bronze reproductions of Lincoln's most famous addresses and sculptures depicting scenes from his life.

Oak Ridge Cemetery itself is one of the largest and oldest cemeteries in the United States, with notable monuments to Civil War veterans and Illinois leaders throughout. The walk from the parking area to the tomb passes through a landscape of mature trees and Victorian-era funerary sculpture. The site is managed by the Illinois Historic Preservation Agency and is open daily except Tuesdays; the grounds remain accessible outside of building hours.

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Lincoln's nose at the tomb entrance has been rubbed to a bright shine by millions of visitors who believe touching it brings good luck — a tradition that began organically and has become so established that the National Park Service polishes the bronze regularly to prevent permanent damage. Inside the tomb, Lincoln is buried beneath nearly four metres of concrete, encased in a steel cage. This precaution was added after a gang of counterfeiters attempted to steal the body in 1876 and hold it for ransom — they nearly succeeded before a Secret Service informant tipped off the authorities.