The Land of Lincoln!!!!

We arrived in Springfield, IL late Tuesday afternoon and planned our excursions into Lincoln country. So much to see! Thankfully we allowed enough time to tour and to rest. Good thing -- Jack got a cold so isn't feeling the greatest.

LINCOLN SITES: We started our Lincoln tour by heading to the Lincoln Presidential Museum which is a modern building built in late 1977 with the Lincoln Presidential Library across the street in a mirror image building. The Museum has two special effects theaters (one on the Presidential Library and one on Lincoln's years in the White House and the Civil War). We had two paths to follow: Lincoln's early years by entering through a log cabin and with displays show casing his early years as a store keeper, his courting and marriage to Mary Todd, and his life in Springfield as a lawyer and legislator. By entering the White House, we were taken through his years as President of the United States and the effect of the Civil War on Lincoln.

We walked a few blocks down and visited the Lincoln and Herndon Law offices. The next day we went to the National Park Service's Lincoln Home National Historic Site. The main property is the Lincoln home where the Lincoln's lived for 17 years and is amid a scenic and historic neighborhood. The National Park Service offers free tours of the house. The house contains many pieces of Lincoln furniture, and it was moving to be able put my hands on the stairway bannister and know that Lincoln had likely put his hands on the same piece of wood! Two neighboring houses are also open containing information on the neighborhood and the inhabitants' relationship with the Lincoln's. We also visited Lincoln's tomb in Oak Ridge Cemetery. The tomb is a 117-foot monument and contains the tombs of Lincoln, wife Mary, and Tad, Eddie and Willie.

OTHER Springfield Sites:

Old State Capitol where Abe delivered his famous "House Divided" speech in the Hall of Representatives. His body lay in state there May 3 and 4, 1865.

Dana-Thomas House:

This house was designed by Frank Lloyd Wright in 1903-04 for Springfield socialite and activist Susan Lawrence Dana. The house has all the furnishings designed by Wright and is known for it's beautiful art glass windows and use of space.

Illinois State Museum:

This library contains exhibits on the state's natural history and arts. I especially enjoyed the paper weight collection!

Korean War National Museum:

This museum contained donated pictures from some of the many servicemen who served in the Korean War and provided a timeline of events of the war. One of the most interesting DVD's was of the group of military people who travel to the various war sites of all wars to find, bring home, identify remains, and return them to their families.

Vachel Lindsay Home:

Vachel Lindsay , a Springfield poet, author and artist was born here in 1879 and died here in 1931. The home remained in the family for 80 years and was acquired by the state in 1991. Abe and Mary Todd Lincoln visited the home often when they lived in Springfield during the mid-1800's when Mary's sister and her husband owned the house. The house was built in 1840.

The two pictures are of our Lincoln touring: One is of us in front of the Lincoln home, and the other was taken at the Museum where the Lincoln family invited us to have our pictures taken with them. The statues are said to be the correct height of the Lincolns.