8th and Jackson, Springfield, Illinois

The Lincoln home is one place that I have always wanted to visit. For most of my life, even way before Frank Lloyd Wright, I have read presidential biographies. I would have to say that of all of the presidents I find Theodore Roosevelt, Abraham Lincoln and George Washington to be the most fascinating.

With the Dana-Thomas House closing in Springfield, last weekend, I knew it was either a "go or regret that I didn't go" kind of decision. I also know that at long last I could see the Lincoln's home town.

This is the view that most people are familiar with.

Looking north east.

Before owning his own home, Lincoln roomed in boarding houses, a tavern, an attic of a store and other peoples houses. Finally a debt was paid from New Salem and he was making some decent money and could afford his own home.
This was originally a 1 1/2 story house that was bought for $1,500 from the Reverend Dresser, the preacher that married the Lincolns. The Lincolns would live here from 1844 - 1860 when they moved to Washington D. C.

Work in progress. The restoration of the formal parlor.

This is the "family room" where the Lincolns spent their evenings. The boys, Willie and Tad were given the stereoscope, that is sitting on the table, so they could look at pictures of places from around the world. That is the equivalent of a Playstation 3 to us.


We touch the hand rail that Lincoln used for the 16 years that he lived here. How cool is that? I was surprised that we could take all the pictures we wanted with and without flash.
So I gladly and giddily took quite a few.

The Lincolns had a bedroom suite sleeping in separate rooms as was the custom.
I believe the small stove belonged to them.

Right behind the ranger's head is Mr. Lincoln's shaving mirror set to his height of 6'4".
They said with his boots and stove pipe hat it put him about 7'.

This is Mr. Lincoln's home desk.
We were told that it broke and his wife threw it out
only to have its owner go out and fetch it back and fix it.

The small table was Mary Lincoln's. I think the chair was too. The wall paper is a reproduction of the French wall paper that Mrs. Lincoln picked out. Even though these rooms were not seen by friends, family or business people, the rooms were very up to the moment in wall coverings, flooring, and furniture.

The boys room. Before Robert, the oldest moved out this was his room.
I'm sure Willie and Tad were happy to move in.

This was an active kitchen. Mary Lincoln and her her servants fixed meals for the constant company and probably friends of the boys.

The window looks over the long back yard. The lot is 50 by 150 feet.

Elizabeth looks at a model of the house as it looked in 1844.

This picture is mounted at the visitor's center. The nomination and election behind Springfield had reason to celebrate. The August Republican rally held at the fairgrounds included whole steers cooked in pits and a parade that took 8 hours to pass by his house. All 4 Lincolns are in the photo. President elect is to the right of the door. Wife, Mary and Willie are in the very left bottom window and Tad in the 2nd from the left 2nd floor window. Robert was off presumably to college.

We had enough time to stop by the new Presidential Museum.

The Lincolns have a daughter at last.

The path from log cabin to the presidency.

Lincoln logs. How fitting. Invented by John Lloyd Wright, Franks son.

The law office sits across from the old capitol. Mr Lincoln took part in over 5500 cases in 24 years.

The old state house.

Such a complicated man both beloved and hatefully scorned. He was the right man at the right time during the most divisive time in our counties history. Perhaps the only one to see the entire purpose of a civil war and how it must end. His House Divided speech was made from this capitol. His friends thought he was committing political suicide and thought the speech to harsh and radical.

One question that was asked on our tour was, " Are there any living ancestors of the Lincolns?" Sadly no. Of the 4 sons only Robert lived to adulthood. He married Mary Harlan, daughter of Senator James Harlan, from Mt. Pleasant, Iowa. They had 3 children, Mary, Abraham II (Jack) died in 1890 at 7 years of age, and Jessie. Mary married Charles Isham and they had one son, Lincoln, who died in 1971 having married but fathered no children. Jessie married Warren Beckworth and they had Mary Lincoln (Peggy) died in 1975 and Robert Todd Lincoln Beckworth who died in 1985, Bob married 3 times but never had any children and Peggy never married. When asked during a Civil War centennial regarding insights to her great-grandfather, Peggy replied, " I'm as far away from him as anyone else." Now that is a generation gap.

Sources:
Books: Abraham Lincoln Self-Made in America, produced for the 200th Anniversary by the Abraham Lincoln Presidential Library Foundation, pp 13.

Lincoln, An Illustrated Biography, Phillip B. Kunhardt, Jr., Phillip B. Kunhardt III & Peter Kunhardt. Alfred A. Knopf, New York 1992, pp 70 & 127.

The Lincoln Family Album, Photos from the Personal Collection of a Historic American Family, Mark E Neely, Jr., and Harold Holzer, Doubleday, New York, 1990, pp. flyleaf, 119, 147, 149 & 154.

Words and information by our Park Ranger.

Interesting websites:

Mr. Lincoln and Freedom

Lincoln National Historic Site

New pennies next year to celebrate the bicentennial of his birthday.

U.S. Mint
Pennies

I have heard there are more books written about Mr. Lincoln than any other person. There are thousands of websites to explore. Only by learning about the past can we know why we are here today and help guide us to the future. I feel sorry for those who think that history has nothing to do with them as it has everything to do with anything which effects everyone.

Take care and take pictures, they are YOUR history,
-Kim
If there corrections to facts or dates please correct. Thank you.

Land of Lincoln

Saturday, November 29th 2008, Springfield


The focus of our trip was the Dana Thomas House. I read in USA Today that it was closing to the public as of December 1st. This house was on my list of "must see" so we decided to go for it. My pictures of the house are on my other blog. The pictures on this blog are of the Lincoln home, the Lincoln Museum ( toured on Sunday) and some very memorable corn dogs. We stayed at Hilton Garden Inn on Dirksen Parkway, also recommended.



After the tour of the Dana-Thomas house we stopped by the Lincoln home. Too late for a tour we walked around his neighborhood.

We asked the staff at the visitor center for a recommendation for supper. She suggested the Cozy Dog Drive In

An icon of Springfield since 1949, it sat on Route 66.

The hit of the basket is the signature corn dogs. It's piping hot crunchy, not too thick crunchy coating and great quality dog made us think of the tv show, Drive Ins and Dives. Yes, dive right in to a cozy dog! It is closed on Sundays so we couldn't stop for lunch. We were able buy batter to take home and try it ourselves. We highly recommend!!!

Take care and take recommendations from the locals on where to go. They know. Take plenty of pictures of the glorious moments.
-Kim

UNI vs Iowa State Women's Basketball, Nov 20, 2008

Here are a couple pictures from the basketball game the other night.

Let me say that those who know me know that I am no huge fan of basketball. Actually I don't care for basketball too much.
My sister took Elizabeth to the game as it was girls night out while I went to an art show reception for Gary Kelly's Paris and the French Riviera. (my other blog.) I met up with them at close to half time. This was the second time that I've been in the McLeod center. The first time was May of 2006 for high school graduation.

We are slightly over matched.
Not to worry as it's a young team and
they will all learn from the experience.

State unity is shown with the cheer squads.

Half time already. No marching bands as in football.
We saw some great pyramid building.

I can't even see the ball.

Another score for UNI.

T.C. mingles with the fans.

Some are loved and some wipe up sweat.

Red bird alert.

Win or lose it was very nice.

"Good game."

It was fun to people watch. Perhaps I'd see another game someday. Till then...

Take care and take pictures of all the family happenings at Thanksgiving.
-Kim

Sullivan Brothers Iowa Veterans Museum, Grand Opening

Our state museum to honor all Iowa Veterans opened today. I am sorry to say that I didn't make it to the parade or the ribbon cutting. I arrived at 3:00 to volunteer in what ever way needed.

The Lone Sailor looks great against the colors.

Civil War meets todays sailors.

The Navy band sounded beautiful in the atrium.

Here is the picture that I was talking about in the first post about the museum.

The last time I saw so many uniforms was when I toured the Pentagon.

I really like how the story of the home front is told from several eras. Do you think we would have won without the support from home?


Reenacters from several states answered the call to come recognize
the veterans and help tell the story.

The little prairie girls are checking out the photos that soldiers carried with them to war.

The gift shop was open. I liked the Lone Sailor pin that I bought.

Top of the hour...BOOM!

The Lone Sailor has company tonight.


The staff at the Grout worked very hard to get everything ship shape for today.

The feel of the museum is pride, honor, sacrifice, unity and wonderment. It was very moving to see our veterans take it all in and hear their comments. Even I, a volunteer of two hours, was thanked for being there! I told them that the thanks belongs all to them.

I encourage you to run over and take a tour. It really is well done.

Thank a veteran and take pictures,
Kim

Troop 55 - Eagle Scout Number 98

I am very proud to announce that we are celebrating Christopher's advancement to the rank of Eagle Scout. Can it be that it has already been 10 years since he was a first grade Tiger Cub? He joins his brother, Ben, who is Eagle Scout number 89.

His Eagle Scout service project was the planning and leading 40 people the construction of a wood chip path to a playground at Cedar Heights Elementary.

Take care and take pictures of all the happenings all the time.
-Kim

Sullivan Brothers Iowa Veterans Museum

Mark your calendars for Saturday, November 15th because that is the grand opening of the Sullivan Brothers Iowa Veterans Museum at the Grout Museum in Waterloo. (There will be a parade too 10:00)

I had a chance to go for a sneak peak yesterday with a Cub Scout Pack and was excited and proud that this museum is here in our own area.

The Lone Sailor statue greets visitors. Designed by Stanley Bleifeld, the original stands in Washington D.C. at the Navy Memorial. He represents all sailors past, present and future. There are 12 statues around the country all standing next to water. We are only inland site. (If you ever get to Washington D. C. take a moment to visit the memorial. The bronze reliefs surrounding the Plaza are really cool to see!)

Inside: Learn about Iowa's veterans from the Civil War to the present.
Including Iowa boys sent to the Phillipines in the late 1800's. Learned something new.

Trench warfare in World War I, the war to end all wars.

Up periscope.

The home front is explored through packing crates of cans in 30 seconds.
We told him that the lid would have to fit on the crate. Lid?

Checking out the theatre and viewing the stories of our Iowa Veterans.

Liberation is at hand! They were told to get down from the tank. I don't know why- the huge picture mural behind them shows about a dozen soldiers sitting on top of a tank.

Exploring a coding machine.

There is a Navy feel through out the museum.
The battleship grey and the steel stairs had the feeling of a battle ship.

Upstairs this statue of the 5 Sullivan Brothers greets us.

Evaluations are filled out at the end.
We only had time to touch on a few things.
Leaving plenty to come back and explore and learn.

If you don't already know the story of the Sullivan Brothers, I encourage you to do a some research. Kelly Sullivan Loughren, the granddaughter and grandniece lives and teaches right here in Cedar Falls! Check out Kelly on YouTube.

Take care and take pictures,
Kim