Lincoln Group does Springfield, September 2016

[RJNorton]

Thanks to Laurie for sending these 2016 plans from the Lincoln Group of the District of Columbia:

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Looking For Lincoln in Illinois: Preliminary Sites Itinerary
September 25-30, 2016

(Travel on you own to/from Bloomington; lodging, food, local transport, ticket costs TBD.)

Bloomington  (nights of Sept. 25 and Sept. 30)

David Davis Mansion State Historic Site
Judge David Davis was a close friend, mentor, and legal and political ally of Abraham Lincoln. After becoming President, Lincoln appointed Davis to the U.S. Supreme Court in 1862. The Davis mansion, "Clover Lawn," was a lavish Victorian home with eight marble fireplaces and boasted many modern features including central heating and indoor plumbing. The home has been completely restored and contains many original furnishings.

Jumonville Statue
Named "The Convergence of Purpose," this statue grouping by local artist Andrew Jumonville stands in Lincoln Park outside the Bloomington Center for the Performing Arts. It depicts Abraham Lincoln in the 1850s between two longtime friends from Bloomington-Normal: Jesse Fell and David Davis. Fell famously asked Lincoln for an autobiography to help promote him, and Davis served as Lincoln's campaign manager in the 1860 presidential race.

Lincoln Oak Memorial
During the 1800s, several politicians including Lincoln and Douglas debated under the shade of an old oak tree in Bloomington. The original tree was replaced in the 1900s, but the site is marked with a plaque. It's also interesting to visit the surrounding neighborhood, which includes older homes in various stages of restoration, and the Vrooman Mansion, now a B&B.

“Cruisin’ on Route 66 with Abraham Lincoln” Visitor Center.  
At the McLean County Historical Museum in the magnificent Old County Courthouse, the new Visitor Center exhibit compares the experiences of Lincoln in his travels with those of automobilists during the golden days of Route 66.  Exhibits feature stories about dining, lodging, and traveling during the two eras. A short video takes a light-hearted look at the downtown Bloomington locations with ties to Lincoln.   The auditorium uses vintage seating original to the former courthouse.   In a museum gallery meet Lincoln, David Davis, and Adlai Stevenson, as well as the common people who have called McLean County home.  

Lincoln   (night of Sept. 26)

Lincoln Heritage Museum
The Museum at Lincoln College exhibits a rare and valuable collection of artifacts that tell the story of the life and times of Abraham Lincoln.  The museum houses several artifacts from the Lincoln Home in Springfield.  A rocker belonged to Tad and exemplifies the mischief that the Lincoln boys often created. Young Tad was likely aged 7 or 8 when he carved with a pocketknife his name on the back of his chair.    A one-of-a-kind canvas campaign banner reflects the 1860 “Railsplitter Candidate” campaign and was used in several rallies in central Illinois.   An original 1865 oil canvas portrait of Lincoln was painted by William Cogswell, a portraitist of some distinction whose subjects include Presidents Lincoln, Grant, and McKinley.

Watermelon Christening Site
As the first lots were sold in the town of Lincoln, residents asked Abraham Lincoln to come from Springfield to christen the first town to be named for him. He used the juice of a watermelon.

Postville Courthouse State Historic Site
The present Postville Courthouse, a reproduction of the original 1840 Courthouse, was visited by Lincoln while he traveled the 8th Judicial Circuit.

Mt. Pulaski - Mt. Pulaski Statehouse State Historic Site
The Mt. Pulaski Statehouse is one of only two surviving 8th Judicial Circuit courthouse in Illinois where Abraham Lincoln practiced law. In 1847, local citizens, craftsmen, and merchants donated materials and labor and raised $2,700 to construct the building. Today, the building has been restored and is listed on the National Register of Historic Places.

Petersburg - Lincoln's New Salem State Historic Site
During the six years (1831-1837) he lived in New Salem village, Lincoln clerked in a store, enlisted in the Blackhawk War, served as postmaster and deputy surveyor, studied law and was elected legislator. Twelve log houses, the Rutledge Tavern, ten workshops, stores, mills and a school where church services were held have been reproduced and furnished as they might have been in the 1830s. The furnishings, including many articles actually used by the New Salem people of Lincoln's time and others dating back to the same time period, were assembled and donated to the state by the Old Salem Lincoln League.

Athens - Long Nine Museum
Lincoln and eight other Illinois legislators (known as the "long nine") won the General Assembly's approval to move the state capitol from Vandalia to Springfield. They were honored at a banquet held upstairs in the building that stands now where it stood then in 1837.

Springfield  (nights of Sept. 27-29, return to Bloomington for night of Sept. 30)

Abraham Lincoln Presidential Museum and Library
After opening in 2005 the Abraham Lincoln Presidential Library rapidly became the best attended of all the Presidential libraries and one of the most studied new museum in the world.   The 200,000 square foot complex, which includes an Archive, Library and Museum, features public experiences, galleries and theater presentations that are more than 50% larger than any other presidential library.   The museum is considered to be the first major “Experience Museum.”   Designed, created and produced by BRC Imagination Arts, the museum combines priceless historical artifacts with BRC's innovative, contemporary storytelling technologies. Visitors are offered an engaging, emotional and educational experience through immersive, "you-are-there" exhibits.   At the library visitors and scholars have access to a great and extensive collection of materials relating to Abraham Lincoln and his era through a variety of venues. Included as well is an Education Department.

Lincoln Home National Historic Site
The Quaker-brown residence where the Lincoln family lived for seventeen years (1844-1861) is a national treasure.  It's located in the midst of a four-block historic neighborhood. Your tour of the only home the Lincoln's ever owned will be conducted by National Park Service rangers.

Lincoln-Herndon Law Offices
Abraham Lincoln practiced law in the offices above Seth Tinsley's dry goods store from 1843 until 1853. It was an ideal location for a rising young law firm – near the Capitol and Springfield's finest hotel of the day, and just above the local post office and Federal Courtroom. Stephen Logan (1843-1844) and William Herndon (1844-1865) were his partners during this time. This is the only surviving structure in which Lincoln maintained working law offices.

Old State Capitol
"A house divided against itself cannot stand..." These immortal words were spoken by Abraham Lincoln in the historic Old State Capitol Hall of Representatives in the turbulent days preceding the Civil War. Lincoln's association with this building spanned the years 1837-1860. He tried several hundred cases in the Supreme Court, borrowed books from the state library, and read and swapped stories with other lawyers and politicians in the law library.

Lincoln Depot
"No one, not in my situation, can appreciate my feelings of sadness at this parting." Bittersweet words spoken by President-elect Abraham Lincoln as he departed his beloved Springfield for an uncertain future in Washington, D.C. The Depot contains restored waiting rooms (one for ladies and one for the luggage and tobacco-spitting men), exhibits of people and placesdear to Lincoln, and an audio-visual show recreating the 12-day journey to his inauguration.

Lincoln Tomb
The final resting place for Abraham, Mary Todd, Tad, Eddie and Willie Lincoln. (Oldest Son, Robert, is buried in Arlington National Cemetery.) The monument was designed by sculptor Larkin Mead and completed in 1874. The original receiving vault in which Abraham Lincoln was buried can be seen on a tour of the cemetery.

Oak Ridge Cemetery
Oak Ridge is the second most visited cemetery in the U.S. People from across the country and throughout the world come to see the tomb of Springfield's most famous citizen. But, this beautiful 300-acre cemetery is also the final resting place for other notable historical figures including labor leader John L. Lewis, the famous poet Vachel Lindsay, four Illinois governors, and Lincoln's law partner, William Herndon.

Lincoln’s Ghost Walk: Legends & Lore
Each Thursday through Saturday evening, from May through October, your group can join a costumed guide on the Old State Capitol Plaza for a 1 ½ hour, moderately paced walking tour exploring the ghostly history and stories surrounding Lincoln's life and death.


Interested?   Contact John Elliff, 703-360-1265, jtelliff@aol.com