Springfield, Illinois--Abraham Lincoln's Home

We started our day in Springfield at the Abraham Lincoln Museum.  This fabulous museum was designed with the help of Disney.  And it sure showed.  There were interactive movies and displays, holograms, figures and characters all over.  However, there were very few places in the museum that allowed pictures.  The Lincoln family posed for a picture in front of the White House, however.  :o)

Here President Lincoln alone agreed to be photographed with us.  We spent the entire morning taking it all in.  

We then went back to the Lincoln Home Visitor's Center and watched the video presentations and exhibits in the homes surrounding the Lincoln's that we missed on Monday.  Hmmm.  Now what to do with three hours before the flag ceremony at Lincoln's Tomb?  We decided to visit the Presidential Library and the Old Courthouse down the street.  The Presidential Library is a beautiful building packed with artifacts and original documents.  It was quite interesting.  The Old Courthouse was delightful.

We got there just before our tour began.  The tour guide, dressed in period clothing, was exceptionally knowledgable and gave a great tour of the courthouse.  Some of the pieces that we particularly enjoyed--

This was a large map of the United States.  It was began at the time that Texas was an independent country.  It was meticulously hand drawn with each county shaded independently.  It was prepared in 9 sections but by the time it was finished, it was so out of date (Texas had become a state) that it was rolled up and stored.  It was found during a remodel in the 1960's so it is in excellent condition.

This is an original Senate desk believed to have been used by Abraham Lincoln.  When the courthouse was remodeled in the 1800's, the desks were sold.  Abraham Lincoln's law partner was a prominent member of the community and a Senator.  One of the citizens of Springfield wanted to purchase his desk but it was too expensive.  So he settled for purchasing the desk of his junior law partner--Abraham Lincoln--which sold at a more reasonable price.  There is no definitive proof that it was Abraham Lincoln's but that is the legend behind the desk.







Like the Lincoln home, the rooms in the courthouse were visited by reporters of the time during the campaigns of President Lincoln and very detailed drawings were made of the room. Upon his election as President, he was sent a wooden chain from a constituent in Wisconsin with a reminder to the President-elect to do all in his power to keep the United States of America united. This is a recreated of that chain, which hung in the campaign headquarters of President Lincoln at the courthouse.



This is a regimental flag that was carried during the Civil War under Ulysses S Grant. 

Our next stop was the cemetary where Lincoln's Tomb is.  At the entrance of the cemetary, they have veteran's memorials for WWII, Korea and Vietnam.  It is always so touching to see the names and the inscriptions at war memorials. 

Vietnam Veteran's Memorial

Korean Veteran's memorial

WWII Veteran's Memorial

Our final stop of the day was Lincoln's Tomb.  Every Tuesday, the 114th Regiment, which was remustered in the 1960's for reenactments, ceremoniously lowers the flag and presents it to a family in attendance at the ceremony.  They were wonderful.  There was even a cannon at the lowering of the flag.  A local boy scout was selected to receive the flag.  That seemed very fitting.

We then had an opportunity to go inside the monument and view Lincoln's Tomb.  It is all very nicely done.

President Lincoln, his wife Mary and 3 of their 4 sons are buried in this tomb.  Their oldest son, Robert, is buried with his wife at Arlington National Cemetary.  Robert is the only son to have reached adulthood.  He and his wife had 3 children--2 daughters and a son.  Their son died in his youth.  They had grandchildren but none of them had children so there are no direct descendents of Abraham Lincoln alive today.

Next stop, Nauvoo.  But for my Mom--Sunset Alert!