Quincy brings together historical themes, architecture, and its location on the Mississippi. When planning your visit, you can choose from several different focuses: two museums covering clearly distinct historical topics, a self-guided architecture tour, Villa Kathrine, and bike rentals. First, you can decide whether history, buildings, or the option to bike should shape your stay.

Two Historical Focuses

The Quincy Underground Railroad Museum at the Dr. Richard Eells House is one of the earliest and most significant documented Underground Railroad sites in the United States. This specific location grounds the topic in Quincy and sets it apart from a general exploration of the city's history. The Lincoln-Douglas Debate Museum focuses on a different historical subject: it commemorates the 1858 debate and Abraham Lincoln's significance to Quincy. The museum features five interactive video exhibits, including The Turning Point. The two museums thus raise different questions: one represents Quincy's connection to Underground Railroad history, while the other focuses on a particular event and Lincoln's significance to the city. If history is your focus, you can use this distinction to guide your choice rather than treating both sites as similar stops.

Architecture Across Multiple Areas of the City

Quincy's self-guided Architectural Driving Tour takes visitors through 15 of the city's major architectural areas. This distinguishes it from a museum visit focused on a particular historical topic: its subject is architecture across several areas. Its self-guided format makes it a standalone option for travelers who want to understand Quincy not only through individual historical events but also through its architecture. Among the cultural attractions, it offers a citywide perspective on architecture alongside the museums' clearly defined historical themes. The architecture tour highlights several areas of the city, while Villa Kathrine centers on a single building with a known construction year and a specific location along the river.

Villa Kathrine on the Mississippi

Villa Kathrine was built in 1900 and stands on the bluffs overlooking the Mississippi River. The house also serves as an information center along the Great River Road. This one place brings together its construction year, riverside location, and role on a named route. If, in addition to the museums and architecture tour, you want to focus on Quincy’s location on the Mississippi, this offers a different perspective.

Bike Rentals as Another Option

Bike Quincy offers up to two Trek bikes or one tandem for free rental. This adds a different kind of activity to your plans alongside the museums and architecture tour. The specific choice between individual bikes and a tandem is what distinguishes the offering. If you are choosing what to do in Quincy based on different interests, you can consider this bike option as a focus in its own right, alongside history and buildings.

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