Charleston tourism Doudna Fine Arts Center Lincoln State Historical Sites

Eastern Illinois University’s Doudna Fine Arts Center serves as a cultural beacon for all of central Illinois, making it a significant highlight for Charleston tourism. Designed by Antoine Predock, this architectural marvel exemplifies modern design by seamlessly blending form and function. It provides a state-of-the-art home to EIU’s School of the Arts, which encompasses the Departments of Art + Design, Music, and Theatre. The center is also an ideal spot for visitors interested in exploring Lincoln State Historical Sites.

Join us at Kiwanis Park, Daum Amphitheater, for these exciting Concerts and Theatre in the Park, a must-see for anyone exploring Charleston tourism. Don’t forget to bring a lawn chair or blanket to enjoy the performances. This venue is also close to the Doudna Fine Arts Center and Lincoln State Historical Sites, making it a perfect addition to your visit!

The Tarble Arts Center serves as the teaching museum located on the campus of Eastern Illinois University in Charleston, a key destination for Charleston tourism. It features an annual program of rotating exhibitions that offer experiential encounters with art of both international significance and local relevance. Visitors to the area may also explore nearby attractions, including the Doudna Fine Arts Center and various Lincoln State Historical Sites.

Visit Lake Charleston for birdwatching, biking, picnicking, and so much more! Lake Charleston's trails connect to Sister City Park, Lakeview Park, and Woodyard Park.

The Urban Butterfly Initiative is a 501(c)(3) non-profit community service organization that uses butterflies as ambassadors to nature, providing an approachable, fascinating, and beautiful link between people and the environment. 

Grand Prairie Friends is a volunteer-driven, not-for-profit, conservation organization and land trust composed of people from many walks of life who share a commitment to preserve and restore natural areas in east-central Illinois.

The Five Mile House, located five miles southeast of Charleston, Illinois, is one of the earliest remaining structures in Coles county. The original two room brick house was built in the 1840's and a frame kitchen ell was added in the 1850's or 1860's. The stucco and front porch were added in the early 20th century. 

Visit this first-class facility located on the site of the 1858 Charleston, IL Lincoln-Douglas debate. Take a self-guided tour retracing the seven senatorial debates of 1858 between Abraham Lincoln and Stephen A. Douglas. The museum offers exhibits and interactive displays that tell the story of the debates through film, audio selections, artifacts, and photos.

The heart of Lincoln Log Cabin State Historic Site is its working living history farmsteads — places where costumed volunteer interpreters bring the rhythms of 1840s rural Illinois to vivid life. The site encompasses three distinct historic properties, each telling a different chapter of the story.