Centrally located in the middle of the state, the Decatur-Forsyth area is an ideal hub from which to explore all of central Illinois. Following the Looking for Lincoln trail? You’ll find him here as you visit fifteen wayside exhibits that commemorate Abraham Lincoln’s ties to the area. At the Lincoln Trail Homestead State Park and Memorial, you’ll see a bronze plaque that marks the site of the Lincoln family’s first Illinois home which was located about ten miles straight west of Decatur on the Sangamon River. Other notable spots include the site of Lincoln’s first political speech, and the site where he was nominated to run for President of the United States at the 1860 GOP Convention.