Front of the John Wood mansion in Quincy. Known as the John Wood Mansion, this historic home is open for tours. The mansion that he built in Quincy in the late 1830s is still around today. John Wood, the founder of Quincy, became the governor of Illinois in 1860. You could spend an entire afternoon in the park, learning about the story of the debate, as well as admiring the Richardsonian Romanesque architecture surrounding the park. Today, this site is known as Washington Park, located in the historic downtown area. In 1858, Quincy became the backdrop for the sixth Lincoln-Douglas debate. This photograph, taken in 1862, shows at left the public square in which the Lincoln-Douglas debate took place. Quincy’s population grew from 7,000 in 1850 to 24,000 in 1870, making this city the second-largest in the state. The mid-1800s brought prosperity to this region as Quincy became a central transportation hub due to the Chicago, Burlington, and Quincy Railroad. At the same time, Quincy also served as a refuge for the Mormons as they fled from persecution in Missouri. This town served as a refuge in 1838 for the Potawatomi tribe as the government forcibly relocated them from Indiana to Kansas. 15 years later, Quincy was incorporated as a city. While this land was initially called “Bluffs,” the name was changed to Quincy in 1825. The origins of Quincy date back to 1819, when John Wood of Moravia, New York, bought 160 acres of military land. With a rich history, Midwestern hospitality, and a thriving arts scene, Quincy is Illinois’s best-kept secret. Located in western Illinois, on a bluff overlooking the Mississippi River, you’ll find my charming and welcoming hometown of Quincy. When you hear someone say “ Illinois,” your first thought is most likely “Chicago.” However, Illinois is home to much more than the Windy City.
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