Railsplitter Covered Wagon

David Bentley built the wagon over several years using welded steel framing covered in white canvas-like fabric to recreate the appearance of a traditional pioneer covered wagon at vastly enlarged scale. The wheels alone stand taller than most adults, and the canvas covering required custom fabrication and reinforcement to withstand Illinois weather. Bentley sculpted the Lincoln figure separately, incorporating realistic details of period clothing, the book Lincoln holds, and a thoughtful expression that captures the contemplative reading pose familiar from countless Lincoln paintings.

Guinness World Records certified the wagon as the world's largest covered wagon in 2005 after careful measurement and verification by their representatives. The certification specifies a length of forty feet including the tongue, twenty-five feet of overall height, and a curb weight of approximately five tons. No other covered wagon in the world approaches these dimensions, and the certification has remained unchallenged for two decades despite the existence of large pioneer-era reproduction wagons elsewhere in the American West.

Maintenance of the wagon involves periodic canvas replacement, repainting of the Lincoln figure, structural inspection of the steel framing, and regular touch-up work to address weather damage. The Best Western Lincoln Inn handles routine groundskeeping while Bentley and other Lincoln artists oversee artistic restoration as needed. The 2026 Centennial year is expected to bring expanded maintenance and possibly some additional features around the wagon site to enhance the visitor experience.

The wagon faces northwest along Fifth Street, which means that late afternoon light produces the most dramatic photographs by illuminating the canvas covering, the Lincoln figure, and the prominent Route 66 signage. Morning visits work well for travelers heading southbound but require positioning to avoid harsh backlighting. Overcast days actually produce excellent photographs by eliminating shadows that can obscure details of the wagon's construction and the Lincoln figure's expression.

The wagon sits on a grass landscaping area with clear sightlines from multiple angles, allowing photographers to capture wide compositions that include the entire structure or tight crops focused on specific details. A small parking area off Fifth Street accommodates passenger cars and small RVs, with overflow parking available in the adjacent Best Western lot. Tour buses occasionally stop, and the wagon site accommodates groups of any size without crowding.

Many travelers photograph themselves alongside the wagon for scale, using selfie sticks or asking fellow visitors to capture the comparison between human and giant wagon. Drone photography is permitted in the airspace above the wagon provided pilots follow FAA Part 107 rules, and aerial views produce dramatic compositions that emphasize the wagon's massive scale relative to the surrounding landscape. The wagon has become one of the most posted Illinois Route 66 locations on social media platforms.

The Railsplitter Covered Wagon makes the most logical pair with the Mr. Lincoln Railsplitter Statue, another giant Lincoln installation located approximately three miles south at the Logan County Fairgrounds. Travelers typically photograph both within a single afternoon, then add the courthouse statue and Lincoln College Museum to create a complete Lincoln-themed day. The combination of three large Lincoln installations within a small geographic area creates a uniquely concentrated Lincoln experience available nowhere else.

Other natural pairings include the historic Postville Courthouse on the south side of Lincoln, the Mill Museum on Route 66 with its restaurant heritage, the Heritage in Flight Museum at the Logan County Airport, and any number of restaurant stops including the Blue Dog Inn for lunch or dinner. A complete day in Lincoln easily fills eight to ten hours and provides one of the richest single-day Mother Road experiences in central Illinois.

Travelers heading northbound from Lincoln reach Atlanta in fifteen minutes, where Tall Paul, the Palms Grill Cafe, and the J.H. Hawes Grain Elevator await. Southbound travelers reach Springfield in approximately forty-five minutes, where major Lincoln presidential institutions including the Lincoln Home National Historic Site and the Abraham Lincoln Presidential Library and Museum provide deeper academic context for everything experienced in Lincoln itself. The combination of small-town atmosphere and major museum scholarship makes this corridor uniquely rewarding.