Several state historic sites, including those related to the life of Abraham Lincoln, have incurred reductions to public access, due to budget cuts, and some have closed.

The Abraham Lincoln Bicentennial Commission (ALBC) reportedly will be able to fund at least four of them to full operation next spring, but probably not in time for observance of Lincoln’s 200th birthday.

Lincoln’s New Salem State Park near Petersburg, which had 432,176 visitors in 2007, has been open only Wednesdays through Sundays since Aug. 4, but should return to a seven-day schedule in the spring with commission funding.

Organizations that had reserved dates for New Salem tours will be contacted for rescheduling. Call (217) 632-4000 for information.

Lincoln’s Tomb in Oak Ridge Cemetery, Springfield, which had 339,073 visitors in 2007, cut back to five days a week on Sept. 1 due to seasonal worker layoffs. A return to seven-day operation is anticipated next spring by the ALBC.

The Lincoln-Herndon Law Offices, across from the Old State Capitol, are open only on Saturdays, but should be open seven days a week next spring with ALBC funding.

The Old State Capitol, where Lincoln served in the Illinois House, is on a five-day schedule that should go back to seven days in early 2009 with ALBC funding. It recorded 109,254 visitors in 2007.

The Lincoln Log Cabin near Charleston was to close to the public on Oct. 15 but will open for limited special events. No future plans for general access have been announced.

Several other state-operated facilities related historically to Lincoln have been affected by budget cuts.

The Ulysses S. Grant Home in Galena remains open five days a week with financial assistance from the Bicentennial Commission and Illinois Bureau of Tourism.

The tomb of Stephen A. Douglas in Chicago is open only five days a week.

The David Davis Mansion in Bloomington was scheduled to close Oct. 15 but will be open for limited special events.

The Vandalia Statehouse, where Lincoln first served in the legislature, was to close Oct. 15 but will be open for limited special events.

The historic Mt. Pulaski Courthouse and the Postville Courthouse in Lincoln are open four days a week with the help of volunteers.