During their campaign for U.S. Senate in 1858, Abraham Lincoln and Stephen A. Douglas gave major campaign addresses on this mound amid a lively contest marked by music, fireworks, banners, and parades. After a cannon assembled a crowd of one thousand, Douglas spoke here for several hours on August 13th, 1858. Half the crowd then left to greet Lincoln at the landing several blocks to the south as he arrived aboard the flag-draped steamboat Senator with a brass band. After spending the night with friends, Lincoln spoke for two hours in the grove on this mound on August 14th, opposing slavery and answering Douglas's claims. Lincoln stayed in Havana for several days, visiting old friends and campaigning, and on April 16th he spoke at Bath after renewing acquaintances along the route. He departed on the Havana Ferry on August 17th. Lincoln was well known in Mason County, where in the 1830's and 1840's he surveyed and practiced law, campaigned for other offices, and owned a Mason County farm. The park had been a scene of social and recreational activities since Havana pioneer Northrup J. Rockwell donated it in 1849, and the mound was crowned with a large bandstand near the beginning of the 20th century.