DECATUR - The U.S. Senate's passage Thursday of legislation that would establish an Abraham Lincoln National Heritage Area in Central Illinois gave area supporters hope the measure soon will become law.

With the heritage area would come up to $10 million in federal grants over 10 years to improve such sites as the Postville State Historic Sites and Metamora Courthouse in Mount Pulaski, the Macon County History Museum's Lincoln Log Courthouse and Richard J. Oglesby Mansion in Decatur and the Lincoln-Douglas Debate Museum in Charleston.

"You have to keep your fingers crossed until the president signs on the dotted line," said Kim Bauer, director of the Lincoln Heritage Project for the city of Decatur, "but I think we're starting to see people at the federal level saying, 'Let's get this done.' "

Patrick McDaniel, executive director of the Macon County History Museum, said it was a great day for people wanting to promote the heritage of the nation's 16th president. "There will be matching grants that we will be able to apply for," he said. "I'm thrilled at the possibility."

The Abraham Lincoln National Heritage Area Act, which was included in the Consolidated Natural Resources Act, passed in the U.S. Senate on Thursday with a 91-4 vote, and now moves to the House of Representatives.

U.S. Sen. Dick Durbin, D-Ill., sponsored the heritage act, while U.S. Rep. Ray LaHood, R-Peoria, has led the effort to pass a similar bill in the House.

Durbin said in a news release the heritage area would allow the state to build on the success of the Abraham Lincoln Presidential Library and Museum in Springfield.

"Hundreds of thousands of visitors would have a chance to understand how many communities outside of Springfield played a role in Lincoln's life," he said. "With the bicentennial of Lincoln's birth in 2009, this could not come at a better time."

Durbin's bill names the Looking for Lincoln Heritage Coalition as the management authority for the 42-county heritage area. Any amount awarded would have to be matched dollar-for-dollar by state, local or private funds.

The heritage area includes Christian, Coles, DeWitt, Douglas, Fayette, Logan, Macon, Moultrie, Piatt and Shelby counties and Lincoln sites Bryant Cottage in Bement, Lincoln Trail Homestead near Decatur, Thomas and Sarah Bush Lincoln Log Cabin and Living History Farm near Lerna and the Vandalia Statehouse.

Theresa Churchill can be reached at tchurchill@herald-review.com or 421-7978.