Greenup, Illinois

Greenup lies on the historic National Road (U.S. Route 40) in east central Illinois. Greenup received its name from National Road surveyor, William C. Greenup, who plotted the town in 1834. It is known as 'The Town of Porches' due to the numerous second story balconies in the commercial district on its main thoroughfare. Near the center of this small town is a park with children’s playground equipment reminiscent of the 1950’s. On the west side of town is an historic ice cream parlor and the Cumberland County Museum Complex. The Greenup Depot museum acquires and preserves artifacts significant to railroading and telegraph history. The Military Museum in the old Carnegie Library houses a collection of artifacts and oral histories of Cumberland County veterans and local personalities and events. In downtown, a large stone and plaque marks the spot where Abraham Lincoln and Stephen Douglas made speeches while running for the United States Senate in 1858. The National Road Covered Bridge is just outside Greenup along Route 40.