Lincoln Tomb

Tomb

Abraham Lincoln's burial place at Oak Ridge Cemetery in Springfield, Illinois. The tomb attracts history tourists, scholars and those following the Lincoln sites trail across the city.

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In this guide

Lincoln Tomb essentials

Address: Lincoln Tomb, Oak Ridge Cemetery, 1500 Monument Ave, Springfield, IL 62702, USA
Admission: Free

About Lincoln Tomb

The Lincoln Tomb is the memorial and burial site of President Abraham Lincoln, located in Oak Ridge Cemetery in Springfield, Illinois. The monument marks the final resting place of Lincoln and several members of his family and functions as a public memorial and historic site.

The memorial complex includes a central sarcophagus chamber, sculptural and inscriptive elements, and a plaza for visitors; interior features can be viewed during site hours and through managed access. The tomb was constructed in the decades after Lincoln’s assassination and has undergone conservation and interpretation work since.

The memorial was completed in the late 19th century and has been designated and interpreted as a historic site reflecting Lincoln’s national significance. Public ceremonies occur there on notable Lincoln-related anniversaries.

The tomb sits in Springfield’s Oak Ridge Cemetery, a short drive from downtown Springfield in central Illinois, and is operated with visitor information and access arrangements.

  • Burial site: The tomb is located within Oak Ridge Cemetery in Springfield and contains the remains of Abraham Lincoln and members of his immediate family.

What to See#

  • Main tomb and sarcophagus: The central tomb chamber and raised sarcophagus that mark Abraham Lincoln’s burial place within the memorial structure in Oak Ridge Cemetery.
  • Commemorative plaza: The surrounding memorial plaza and bronze statuary and plaques that form part of the commemorative complex dedicated to Lincoln.
Things to Do
When to Go

Best Time to Visit Lincoln Tomb

Plan a visit in spring or autumn (April-May or September-October) for mild weather and comfortable touring conditions.

Spring & Autumn (best overall)
April-May & September-October · 5-25°C
Mild temperatures and comfortable conditions for exploring the tomb, grounds and nearby historic sites.
Summer (warm, busy)
June-August · 18-32°C
Warm to hot weather with higher visitor numbers and active tourist season.
Winter
November-March · -5-8°C
Cold conditions with possible snow or frost; quieter but colder visits to the outdoor monument and cemetery.

Weather & Climate near Lincoln Tomb

Climate

Lincoln Tomb's climate is classified as Hot-Summer Continental - Hot-Summer Continental climate with hot summers (peaking in July) and freezing winters (coldest in January). Temperatures range from -8°C to 31°C. Moderate rainfall (925 mm/year).

Air Quality: AQI 31 Good
Best Time to Visit
JulyAugustJune
Temperature & Rainfall
Temperature Range
42°
Warmest Month
-28°
Coldest Month
Monthly Conditions
Month Comfort Temp Feels Rain Sky Humidity Wind UV Daylight
January Poor -8° - 1° -9° 42 mm partly cloudy 83% 4.5 m/s 0.3 low 9.6h
February Acceptable -6° - 4° -5° 45 mm partly cloudy 82% 4.4 m/s 0.5 low 10.6h
March Acceptable 0° - 11° 2° 80 mm partly cloudy 78% 4.8 m/s 0.8 moderate 11.8h
April Very Good 6° - 18° 12° 91 mm partly cloudy 75% 4.8 m/s 1.2 high 13.1h
May Very Good 11° - 24° 18° 105 mm partly cloudy 77% 3.9 m/s 1.6 very high 14.2h
June Excellent 17° - 29° 23° 97 mm partly cloudy 77% 3.3 m/s 2.0 very high 14.7h
July Excellent 19° - 31° 25° 91 mm some cloud 75% 2.8 m/s 2.0 extreme 14.5h
August Excellent 18° - 30° 24° 88 mm some cloud 72% 2.6 m/s 1.7 very high 13.5h
September Excellent 13° - 27° 20° 80 mm some cloud 71% 2.9 m/s 1.3 high 12.3h
October Very Good 7° - 20° 13° 67 mm partly cloudy 72% 3.6 m/s 0.8 moderate 11.0h
November Good 1° - 11° 3° 73 mm partly cloudy 77% 4.3 m/s 0.4 low 9.9h
December Poor -5° - 4° -5° 66 mm partly cloudy 83% 4.4 m/s 0.2 low 9.3h
Getting There & Around

How to Get to Lincoln Tomb

The Lincoln Tomb is in Oak Ridge Cemetery in Springfield, Illinois. From downtown Springfield it is a short drive (about 2 miles / ~3 km) east-take a taxi, rideshare, or the local SMTD bus service to the cemetery entrance. Amtrak passengers arriving at Springfield’s station can reach the tomb by a brief taxi ride or local bus; from Chicago the drive to Springfield is commonly done via I‑55 (roughly 200 miles / ~320 km).

Tips for Visiting Lincoln Tomb

  • Best time to visit: go late afternoon for softer light on the monument and quieter grounds; mornings can be busier with guided groups and school tours.
  • Where it is and access: the Lincoln Tomb is in Oak Ridge Cemetery, Springfield-enter via the cemetery's main drives and follow signs to the tomb complex and flag plaza for visitor parking and pathways.
  • What many visitors miss: pair the tomb visit with other Lincoln sites in Springfield (Old State Capitol, Lincoln Home and museums) on the same day to get full context-there are small interpretive exhibits at the tomb grounds that are easy to miss.
  • How to avoid crowds: check Illinois State Historic Sites opening hours and weekday guided tour schedules and aim for non-tour-peak days; arriving at opening time usually means fewer people around the monument.