One of the major reasons for going on this trip was to see Abraham Lincoln's Springfield, IL home during the bicentennial year. I have seen two other presidents' homes on their bicentennial years. Both of the others were obscure (Andrew Johnson in 2008 and Franklin Pierce in 2004). After 2009, the next time there will be a bicentennial year for a president is 2022. Both Ulysses Grant and Rutherford Hayes were born in 1822.
I do have lots of photographs from today. However, everything is delayed because of the long driving times.
Lincoln's Home
Abraham Lincoln's home was amazing. The home is located in a section of the city which has streets named after the presidents up to Andrew Jackson. These streets were named this way when Lincoln was living in the house, years before being nominated for president.
Like most national parks, there is a visitor center. But, as you walk towards the house, you basically step back in time. The neighborhood surrounding Lincoln's house has been reconstructed. Several houses from that time period have been brought in or preserved to form a neighborhood surrounding Lincoln's home. The street has dirt over the pavement. There are wagons on the street, along with a log cabin on wheels to represent Abraham Lincoln. This was a campaign device used in 1860 to elect Lincoln.
The tour of the house was very nice. They limit the size of tour groups because the house is small and the viewing area in each room is limited. The guide spoke VERY fast and you had to really pay attention to keep up with him. Everything in the house belonged to the Lincolns. They also have records of the placement of furniture at the time because newspapers sent staff to Lincoln's home while he was a candidate. They produced elaborate drawings of the interior.
Flash photography was allowed. In most historic homes, it is forbidden because the light can fade items. I was really pleasantly surprised, particularly since this home contains items owned by the Lincolns. These are not merely period pieces; they are irreplaceable.
In one of the displays, it is noted that Lincoln tearfully told the people of Springfield as he left for Washington, D.C., that he did not know when or if he would return. Sadly, he did not return to Springfield alive.
Lincoln's Tomb
The street in which the cemetery is located has banners showing Lincoln at various ages, explaining what he was doing (being a dreamer at age 9, being an entrepreneur at age 24, entering the presidency at age 52). The banners were set up for the bicentennial.
Abraham Lincoln is buried only a few miles away from his home. This is a magnificent monument featuring a lifesize statue of Lincoln, along with soldiers from the Union and Confederate armies. There is also a large bust of Lincoln's head several feet away. The monument includes steps to go to an upper deck, but they were chained.
As you go to the monument, a sign requests that all food be put away, cell phones be turned off, and a respectful demeanor be taken. A group of men in their 30s or 40s did not seem to be willing to abide by this. They kept rubbing the nose of the bust (the surface of the nose is already rubbed off), loudly laughing and joking, and one even tried to enter the door of the tomb.
St. Louis, Missouri
After finishing in Springfield, I headed to St. Louis. It felt great to finally see the Gateway Arch in person. As I rounded a bend on I-55, I started getting my first glimpses of the Arch. I have seen this in pictures and on television many times. I had a great view of it for several minutes driving along the interstate. I considered going to see it directly, but realized it would be so big I could hardly get a photo. So, I enjoyed the sight from the interstate until I lost view of it.
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I did, however, get several pictures of the large statue of St. Louis given to the city in the early part of the twentieth century. It was nice to finally see that statue. It is in an absolutely beautiful park, across from an art museum.
After seeing the statue, I had a long drive along I-44 to Joplin, MO, which is in the southwest corner of the state. I was going to stop off here for the next leg of the journey tomorrow. I've been to Joplin a couple of times in previous trips.
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