Guided tours are available Tours Available:

Tuesday, Wednesday, Friday: 9 am-2 pm

and Thursday & Saturday: 10 am-4 pm

Tour appointments are not necessary unless a specific day or time is required.  Free admission is a benefit for all HSQAC members.  Admission for children under 6 is free; student admission (ages 6-18) is $4; and adult admission is $8.  We offer special rates to large groups, but those tours need to be scheduled in advance by calling our office at 217-222-1835 during our office hours, 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. Monday through Friday.

We welcome school groups to tour the Mansion and learn more about its history, while also getting a glimpse of what life was like in the 19th century. If you would like to schedule a free tour, please call us at 217-222-1835 during our office hours, 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. Monday through Friday.

In 1977, the George Lewis family moved a two-story log cabin from Perry, Mo., to their farm near Quincy.  The Lewis family donated the cabin in 2002 to the Historical Society, and it was relocated to its present location east of the Mansion.  The 1835 Cabin, with its adjacent pioneer herb garden, is used for student and adult educational purposes. The cabin is nearly identical to the “up and down” log cabin built by John Wood circa 1829 at what is now the northwest corner of 12th and State.  His family lived in the cabin until 1837, when they moved into the Mansion. Learn more in this Once Upon a Time article. 

The Lincoln Gallery is on the first floor of the Visitors Center at 425 S. 12th. The environment-controlled gallery features museum-quality exhibits focusing on Quincy’s ties to President Abraham Lincoln’s political career, presidency, and assassination.  Artifacts related to the trial of the assassination conspirators are a highlight of the display and include the hood worn by Lewis Powell, one of eight who were accused of aiding John Wilkes Booth in planning Lincoln’s assassination at Ford’s Theater in Washington. Learn More.

The History Museum on the Square houses permanent and rotating exhibits highlighting the role Quincy and Adams County have played in history, as well as local architectural artifacts. The museum also houses Quincy’s History Shop, a gift shop with books and other history- or Quincy-related items. The building itself has a rich history. Learn more about its history, our permanent exhibits, and the museum’s hours here.

No appointment is necessary. You are welcome to take a self-guided tour between 10 a.m. and 4 p.m. Tuesday through Saturday. There is no admission charge, but donations are appreciated. If you would like a guided tour, please call us at 217-214-1888 to arrange a time.

Yes! Quincy’s History Shop in the History Museum on the Square, 332 Maine, has unique books and gifts with a local connection. Learn more.

Yes, the Historical Society offers many educational programs for children, including a program on life in frontier Adams County geared for 3rd Graders and presented at the 1835 Cabin and its pioneer herb garden on the campus of the John Wood Mansion at 12th and State.

The Society also offers a program on Quincy at the time of the Civil War, geared for 5th graders and presented at the John Wood Mansion and its Visitors Center.  Additionally, the Historical Society collaborates with other local history organizations to present a day-long experience, “Quincy in the Lincoln Era,” which is geared for 7th graders and presented at the Lincoln Gallery, the Dr. Richard Eells House, the History Museum on the Square, the Lincoln-Douglas Debate Site and Interpretive Center, Washington Park, and the Lincoln-Era Log Cabin Village.  

Other educational programs for children are available by request.  Learn More. 

You can establish a beautiful tradition for your family during the holidays when you view the sparkling decorations of the candlelit John Wood Mansion and listen to music of the season. As the holiday season approaches, check our calendar for dates and times.  

We occasionally offer walking tours of historic neighborhoods with an informative guide sharing interesting tales of the early Quincy residents who inhabited the homes and operated the businesses.  When a walking tour is scheduled, we will share dates and times with the local media and on our website and Facebook page.

Every Saturday in October, you can meet Quincy’s favorite “dearly departed” as re-enactors portray early Quincy characters throughout the rolling hills of this majestically striking cemetery. Groups of 10 or more should contact the HSQAC Office at 217-222-1835 for ticket information.  

Yes, our research librarian can help you with genealogy research related to Quincy and Adams County. You’ll find more information about our physical and online collections, research policies and fees on our Research page. The Quincy Public Library and Great River Genealogical Society provide other genealogy resources.

The Historical Society maintains a collection of more than 20,000 items documenting the architectural, political, and social history of Quincy and Adams County, from the formation of the county in 1825 to the present. Our collection contains photographs, maps, prints, drawings, deeds, diaries, books, and objects.

Assistance is available from 10 a.m. -2 p.m. Tuesday, Wednesday, and Friday at the Visitors Center, 425 South 12th Street.  You are encouraged to make an appointment by calling 217-222-1835 or sending an email to info@hsqac.org.  You’ll find information about our fees and policies on our Research page. 

Selected items from the collection will be found on our online database.  It is divided into four catalogs:  Objects, which includes furniture, glassware, and fabrics; Photos; Archives, which includes documents, maps, manuscripts, etc.; and Library, which includes books and pamphlets. Check out the online collection here.

The Herald-Whig publishes “Once Upon a Time” columns written by local historians in its Sunday edition. You can read the columns on The Herald-Whig’s website. We also publish the articles on our website’s Newsletters and Articles page and provide an option to search.  Browse the collection to find topics of interest here.

Membership entitles you to free tours of the John Wood Mansion, 1835 Cabin, Livery, Lincoln Gallery, and the History Museum on the Square; access to our research library; a 10% discount on gift shop merchandise; “The Governor’s Post,” the Society’s quarterly newsletter; and a Time Travel Passport, which offers free or reduced admission to 208 partner museums in the United States. Become a Member. 

We appreciate your financial support, and it’s important in helping us continue our mission.  Thank you! You can designate your tax-deductible contribution for a specific purpose or we will use your donation for our most pressing needs. Our board is committed to investing funds in ways that will have the greatest impact on preserving and celebrating our local history.

We always need volunteers to help in a variety of ways. One of our greatest needs is for adults who can help with student education programs. We also need greeters/hosts at the History Museum on the Square; tour guides at the John Wood Mansion, and volunteers to help with clerical work, archival projects and research, installation of museum exhibits and groundskeeping and gardening.

The Historical Society collects items covering the period from 1825 until the present, including a variety of items about Quincy and Adams County, such as photographs, documents, maps, and other archival material. Other objects that fit our criteria will be considered as space allows. Please call us at 217-222-1835 to make an appointment so that we can evaluate your item.