We stopped in Springfield to visit the State Capitol and see the Abraham Lincoln museum/library. The first thing we noticed was how many things were named Abe – Abe’s Liquors, Abe’s Hideout, Abe’s Grill. Not sure but where they trying to convince the tourists that Abe used this places? It was crazy that the city does not restrict using the name Abe or Lincoln. In addition, there are statues of Abraham Lincoln everywhere – again trying to draw the tourists to the nearby businesses.
As mentioned in another post, we stayed in the Illinois State Fairgrounds for $20 a night with full hookups.
We also passed a mural of Abe Lincoln
We visited the Abraham Lincoln Presidential Museum. This museum was great and had life size replications of Lincoln throughout the facility. The statues was life-like almost like Madam Tussaud.
The Bicentennial of Abraham Lincoln’s birth heightened worldwide interest in the life of the 16th American president. However fascination with the leader who led the country during its deepest crisis has been ongoing for the more than 150 years since he came to public prominence. It is said only Jesus Christ has had more written about him.
There are four Abraham Lincoln Museums: Abraham Lincoln Presidential Library and Museum (Springfield, IL); Lincoln Home National Historic Site; Abraham Lincoln Library and Museum at Lincoln Memorial University and Ford’s Theatre National Historic Site.
Standing outside of the Museum is the “Return Visit,” a 31-foot-tall, 19-ton painted bronze sculpture of Lincoln standing with a modern-day man who is holding the Gettysburg Address. A lot of visitors did not understand the purpose of this statute but the kiddos loved to take pictures between the legs.
Once inside you are greeted by a tour guide to give you an overview of the museum. Then in the center is Abe, Mary and his children waiting for you to come up and take pictures with the statues. (Did you know that Lincoln lost three of children? He was a father of four children. (Robert Todd Lincoln was born in 1843 and Edward Baker Lincoln (Eddie) in 1846. Edward died on February 1, 1850, in Springfield, probably of tuberculosis. “Willie” Lincoln was born on December 21, 1850, and died of a fever on February 20, 1862. The Lincoln’s’ fourth son, Thomas “Tad” Lincoln, was born on April 4, 1853, and died of heart failure at the age of 18 on July 16, 1871. Robert reached adulthood and produced children. The Lincoln’s’ last descendant, great-grandson Robert Todd Lincoln Beckwith, died in 1985 with no descendants. In 1975, he became the last undisputed descendant of Lincoln when his sister, Mary Lincoln Beckwith, died without children. )
Abe Lincoln’s line ended there.
In this reproduction of Lincoln’s Office in the White House, his cabinet reacts to his plans to issue an Emancipation Proclamation.
Moving from there we went to the Old State Capitol. The Old State Capitol is a reconstruction of Illinois’ fifth statehouse, the first to be located in Springfield. The building served as the seat of state government and a center of Illinois political life from 1839 to 1876. During the dramatic years leading to the Civil War, the building had an important role in the political struggle between Stephen A. Douglas (1813-1861) and Abraham Lincoln (1809-1865). Lincoln visited the building frequently as both a lawyer and a politician, serving in the building during his last term in the Illinois House of Representatives and delivering the famous 1858 “House Divided” speech in Representatives Hall, and using the governor’s rooms as a headquarters during the 1860 presidential campaign. The building was the scene of the assassinated President’s final laying-in-state on May 3-4, 1865.
We were told that the Capitol was in many places before finally residing in Springfield. When Illinois was admitted to the Union in 1818, Kaskaskia was chosen as the Capital; Kaskaskia which had played a vital part in the military and religious history, almost since the first white man touched on soil that now is Illinois. The first State Capitol was a rented two story building. The Capital was moved to Vandalia in 1820 and many years ago Kaskaskia became a vanished city. On February 25, 1837, the Assembly passed a bill, providing that the Capitol be moved from Vandalia to some place nearer the center of the State, and then on approximately February 28, 1837, Springfield was chosen as the new Capital City. All State records show that the capitol was moved to Springfield by July 4th, 1839 – and within Springfield they had two capitol buildings. Glad they finally stopped moving the capitol.
Then off to the actual State Capitol.
We then went to Lincoln’s Burial site.
Then we went off to see the Military Memorials. When we see the various memorials, we look to see what the themes are for them. These are just straight forward and very clean.
