Saturday, June 18, 2016 – Springfield ILL., Lincoln’s Home, State Capital, Lincoln’s Tomb

For our P-day we went with Elder & Sis. Van Horn (from Washington State) on a tour of Springfield ILL., specifically the Abraham Lincoln historic sites. The Van Horn’s picked us up at 8:15 for the two hour drive to Springfield, the capital of Illinois. 

Our first stop was the 1840’s home of Abraham & Mary Lincoln in downtown Springfield. The home is remarkably preserved. It has been on public display since the 1880’s. While we were waiting for our tour to start we also went through other preserved homes on the same street with the Lincoln’s. We found out all about how the Lincolns lived, entertained, their sons and his law practice. The whole morning was very enjoyable. Well worth the price of admission, which by the way was . . . free! 

Robert Lincoln, the only son that survived to adulthood, specified the Lincoln home would be turned over to the State of Illinois on the condition that there be no entry fee charged for tours. Our tour guide joked; we’ve honored his wishes even though the property is operated by the Nation Park Service now. Of course now that it’s under the federal government control we’ve found a loophole, there will be a fifty dollar exit fee!

Our next museum was the original State Capitol rotunda that was in use from 1839 to 1876. The historic displays were great and they all revolved around the state’s favorite son, Abraham Lincoln. But the best part was a quintet performing a series of historic and patriotic tunes from the 19^th century. They sang A cappella and they were magnificent. Now I’ve got to start looking for their CD on eBay.

Our final stop was at the tomb of Abraham Lincoln. This was another very special place and I felt the significance and reverence of this hallowed site. Not only is this the final resting place of Abraham Lincoln but the entire Lincoln family is buried there except one. 

Robert Lincoln, the only child of Mary and Abraham that survived to adulthood, was not buried with the rest of the family. Mary Todd Lincoln specified that her son Robert was to be buried at Arlington National Cemetery because of his own accomplishments and not be overshadowed by his father, Abraham Lincoln. Robert graduated from Harvard Law School, he was a Captain in the Union Army under Ulysses S. Grant during the Civil War, he was the Secretary of War under two US Presidents, and he was the US ambassador to the United Kingdom. A great man on his own right.

One site we would have liked to have visited is the Lincoln Presidential Museum in Springfield. However the Van Horn’s had already visited the museum so Sis. Johnson and I will have to plan another trip to Springfield to see it.  The Van Horn’s said they spent five hours there and thoroughly enjoyed their time in the Museum. This will give Sis. Johnson and I something to look forward to in the future.