The Journey To Freedom: Illinois Underground Railroad exhibit was developed by Looking For Lincoln, Macomb’s partners in Springfield, as the coordinating entity for the Abraham Lincoln National Heritage Area, to inform and educate the public of Illinois’ incredible and untold Underground Railroad story. The exhibit runs from October 4 - November 30.

Macomb has also been invited to be the first stop outside the state capitol on the exhibit’s years-long tour of Illinois in celebration of Macomb’s new recognition as a National Underground Railroad Network To Freedom area by the National Park Service. The exhibit, which opens on October 4, 2024 at 4:00 p.m. at the Macomb Carnegie Public Library, coincides with Macomb’s Unforgettable Lincoln Days weekend and will be free and open to the public through the end of November.

Macomb’s unique story of the Allison Family’s work as conductors on the Underground Railroad was enthusiastically received by the National Underground Railroad Network To Freedom Committee in summer 2024, and has paved the way for three additional sites, The Blazer Family Homestead, Camp Creek Cemetery, and Oakwood Cemetery to soon also be officially recognized by the committee.