Voters in USA Today’s 10 Best Reader’s Choice Travel Award Contest have selected Springfield’s Abraham Lincoln Presidential Library and Museum as a top attraction in Illinois.

The museum, which voters on USA Today’s 10Best.com ranked as the number three attraction in Illinois, is the top Illinois attraction outside of the Chicago area. Since the Abraham Lincoln Presidential Museum and Library first opened in 2005, more than 4 million people have walked through its doors to learn about our nation’s sixteenth president.

The museum utilizes a mix of traditional exhibitions, technology, special effects and innovative storytelling techniques to captivate visitors. The library is home to an unparalleled collection of materials for Lincoln scholars and students, including 12 million items pertaining to Illinois’ history.

The accolade was well-received by the museum’s staff. According to the museum’s executive director Alan Lowe, “We are delighted that visitors respond so enthusiastically. … Results like ranking so high in the USA Today 10 Best voting reaffirm that we’re helping the people truly connect with Lincoln.”

The ALPLM was outranked by the number one Illinois attraction, the American Writers Museum in Chicago, and the number two Illinois attraction, The Morton Arboretum, located in Lisle. Cahokia Mounds in Collinsville  was the only other attraction on the list located south of Interstate 80.