Springfield 2006
By Gary Gilbert
Sunday, August 13, 2006
We took a brief trip to central Illinois.
Our first stop was Pere Marquette State Park near Grafton Illinois. The park is about 300 miles south west of home, fairly close to St. Louis. The park is beautiful, named for Jacques Marquette who was part of Louis Joliet's exploration of the Mississippi River. Marquette and Joliet were the first Europeans to discover the confluence of the Mississippi and Illinois Rivers. Just a few miles south, the Missouri River joins the Mississippi also. You can read more about this 8000 acre park here: http://dnr.state.il.us/LANDS/LANDMGT/parks/R4/Peremarq.htm We stayed in one of the stone cabins built in the 1930s by the Civilian Conservation Corps http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Civilian_Conservation_Corps . The Sam Vadalabene Bike Trail http://www.greatriverroad.com/vadalabene.htm runs starting at the park about 20 miles to Alton Illinois. The first 6 miles of this trail run through the park and also along the river through Grafton. The last 14 miles are adjacent to Illinois Route 100, which parallels the river. We rode about a 16 mile round trip on the trail, stopping in Grafton and Elsah. Elsah looks like a 19th century town; the entire town is on the registry of historic places. Unfortunately my camera battery was totally discharged and I didn't get to take any pictures that day. We did see deer and flock of turkey buzzards. In the winter, this area is visited by eagles. We spent two days exploring the area.
We spent the next two days in Springfield. Gary hadn't been to Springfield in over 20 years and Lisa hadn't been there for quite a bit longer. Our first stop was at the Lincoln Memorial Garden. http://www.lmgnc.org/ We hadn't planned on stopping there but one of those brown signs along the highway invited us to explore. The Lincoln Memorial Garden is a beautiful preserve along the shores of Lake Springfield. The area was very lush. There are a number of short trials and we explored for an hour or so.
Garden clubs have placed benches throughout. Each has a quote from Lincoln embossed. This one "A House Divided Against Itself Cannot Stand" comes from a speech Lincoln made when he was nominated to run against Stephen Douglas in the 1858 Senate race. His entire speech can be found here: http://showcase.netins.net/web/creative/lincoln/speeches/house.htm
As we walked, we encountered a deer with two fawns.
Our next stop was Oak Ridge Cemetery, where Lincoln is buried. http://www.graveyards.com/IL/Sangamon/oakridge/ Supposedly, Oak Ridge is the second most visited cemetery in the US, after Arlington National Cemetery. Lincoln's Tomb contains the graves of Lincoln, his wife Mary Todd Lincoln, and three of his four children. Robert is buried elsewhere; Robert was the only child of Lincoln to reach adulthood. The last Lincoln relative died in 1985, a great great granddaughter.
Springfield is nasty in August - hot and humid and rainy.
Another view from the back of the tomb. The stairs to the base of the obelisk were closed the day we visited the tomb.
Lincoln was 56 when he was shot by John Wilkes Booth. His grave is simple and elegant. William, Eddie and Tad along with Mary Todd are in the wall behind the spot where I took this photo.
It has long been a tradition to rub the nose of Lincoln. That act is said to bring good luck.
The caretaker's house sits next to the tomb,
Many other famous Illinois people are buried in the cemetery. There are monuments to Illinois veterans. This one below, is Vietnam Vets. Names are inscribed on the stones.
This monument to WWII vets, lists the names of the battles of the war. The European battles on the left and Pacific on the right.
Finally the monument to the Korean War.
Our main reason for visiting Springfield was to view the new Abraham Lincoln Presidential Library and Museum. http://www.alplm.org/Apps/default.asp The museum opened last year and is spectacular. The first thing one encounters are the Lincoln's themselves standing in front of the White House. Entering this door, leads one to an exhibit on the history of Lincoln's presidency. Lincoln was vilified in political cartoons and only became a hero after his assassination.
Entering via the log cabin leads to the history of Lincoln's life as a child until he left Springfield after being elected to become president in the 1860 election.
There was a trio dressed in union army uniforms playing music of the era. Press the button to view a short video.
The library is the premier place for Lincoln researchers.
Across the street from the library is the museum. We spent nearly 5 hours at the museum/
The part across the street contains one of many Lincoln memorials that appear throughout Springfield.
Lincoln's pre-presidency home is open to the public a few blocks away. The home is run by the US Park Service http://www.nps.gov/liho/ When I was younger the house was painted yellow. More recent studies have discovered the original color was brown. Until fairly recently, it was possible to drive by the home. The US Park Service has bought and is restoring 4 square blocks, They are removing the concrete sidewalks and replacing them with wooded sidewalks as Lincoln would have used in the 1850s.
The house was originally a 1-1/2 story home. Lincoln expanded it to a full 2 stories.
Knocking on Lincoln's door!!
Not quite of the same historic significance but we visited Maid-Rite, the first drive in food restaurant in the US, in 1924. Taylor's Maid-Rite is headquartered in Marshalltown Iowa, http://www.maidrite.com/ and their loose meat sandwiches are a favorite on RAGBRAI.
We visited the Illinois state capitol building. http://www.ilstatehouse.com/ This photo is a side view. The first floor is open to the public and the rest of the building is open for tours. The assembly chambers were closed but the tour did visit the governor's office. The current governor conducts most business from the State of Illinois Building in Chicago, where he lives.
Looking up at the dome.
There are several statues on the grounds of the capitol. Stephen Douglas, who was only 4' 6" was known as the Little Giant. He was a senator from Illinois, having defeated Lincoln. That campaign featured the Lincoln-Douglas debates. He ran for president as a Democrat in 1856 and 1860. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Stephen_A._Douglas
Of course there is a Lincoln Statue.
And Pierre Menard, Illinois first Lt Governor.
Details about all the statues are here: http://www.cyberdriveillinois.com/publications/pdf_publications/com221.pdf
Twenty miles northwest of Springfield is New Salem. Lincoln lived in this small village for 6 years before moving to Springfield. He was postmaster, surveyor and unsuccessfully operated a couple of stores. The stores failed - he was not a good businessman. http://www.lincolnsnewsalem.com/ The village eventually disappeared after the county seat moved elsewhere. The homes are build on the original foundation in the style of the 1800s. One home is built with original timbers.
Henry Onstot Coopersmith
Schoolhouse and Church
Inside the Robert Johnson residence
Lincoln-Berry Store
I captured this butterfly but like many other photographic subjects, it refused to cooperate and open its wings in time with my shutter.
We left Springfield and headed towards Lake Shelbyville. The lake and scenery are beautiful but the Lodge at Eagle Creek State Park is very run down and not very clean. Yuck!
We visited the nearby Amish and Mennonite communities and stopped at a Used Buggy Lot (which sounds like a Mel Brooks movie line).
