Trivia Advent Calendar

[Thomas Kearney]

Is it a park?

[Eva Elisabeth]

Merriam Webster defines park as:
"- a piece of public land in or near a city that is kept free of houses and other buildings and can be used for pleasure and exercise
- a large area of public land kept in its natural state to protect plants and animals
sports
- a field or stadium where a sport (especially baseball) is played"

A very smart guess, Thomas, and I agree the place is so magnificently done that it looks like a park, but it doesn't match any park definition.

[Gene C]

This is a good one Eva. In the background center, there appears to be a sign that I can't read.
On the left there seems to be the frame work of a tower. And a curving trail or path.

That can mean only one thing.
Unfortunately I don't know what that is

How about the grounds of the White House?

[Rogerm]

Is this Seward's property in Auburn, NY?

[Gene C]

I like your guess Roger.
If mines not right, I switching to Roger's answer.
(is that legal under trivia rules?)

[J. Beckert]

Lincoln's birthplace in Kentucky?

[Thomas Kearney]

I'll go with Vicksburg National Military Park, since it looks beautiful like it did when I went there the Summer before 10th Grade.

[Eva Elisabeth]

Thank you everyone for all these fantastic guesses. Kudos to Rogerm and Gene - this is indeed Seward's garden. The entire photo (from "Team of Rivals") shows him awaiting (to no avail) to receive news of his his victory (not to come) in the race of the Chicago Convention:
   

[L Verge]

That is a very impressive garden! We need our Seward expert here, Linda Anderson, to discuss Seward's net worth in 1860 and where his wealth came from. If I remember correctly, he married wealth and agreed to live with his father-in-law. So is the grandeur of the garden courtesy of his wife's family?

[Eva Elisabeth]

Score update:
Laurie 6
Roger 3
Gene 3
Joe 2
Rogerm 1
Thomas 1

Ready to peep through window #14? I'm afraid it's one of the small ones.
   
Whose Xmas tree was this?

[RJNorton]

Is it from the Harlan-Lincoln House in Mt. Pleasant, Iowa?

[L Verge]

Since it appears to be a photograph, not a drawing, that should place it in a time period when photography was more accessible to the general public??

[Gene C]

Lincoln's home in Springfield ?

[Eva Elisabeth]

Brilliant guess, Roger, but, sorry, not correct.

Laurie - I would call it a "re-enactment".

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Lincoln's home in Springfield ?

Good idea, Gene, but, sorry, not correct either.

[J. Beckert]

The tree looks of a German style, so I'll say Mary & Tad's.