Day Five
Springfield, Illinois - Hometown of Abe Lincoln
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After we visited Great Pumpkin Patch, we left Arthur on the same day and headed to Springfield, Illinois. Driving time was about two
hours. We arrived in Springfield early evening. We checked in Hilton Springfield immediately. I didn't want to spend extra money for valey parking.
So, I took all our baggage out of the trunk at the front doors of the hotel and drove our car to the public parking building right next to the hotel.
We were all tired. So we went straight to our rooms for a couple of hours' rest. Then we went out for dinner about seven. We found a reataurant by the
Old State Capital. A kind of presentation session by some poem group was still on, but we could sit at one table. We ordered sandwich and
wine, and had a quality time there. Then we went back to Hilton. We went to sleep early to prepare for Day Five.
The following photo shows Hilton Springfield, which is the white tower in the center. A unique shape, right? Click on the photo for
enlargement.
This is the Old State Capital downtown Springfield. I took this photo on Day Five. Abe Lincoln used to work as a State senator in this
capital building. His law office was located facing the front entrance of this building, and it's still preserved at the same place.
On Day Five we checked out Hilton around 8:30am and drove to Lincoln Home National Historic Site. It was actually a very short drive (probably just
a couple of minutes). The U.S. Government shutdown had been over the previous day, so we knew it should be open during the regular work hours, but
I worried a little bit. To my relief, however, it was already open when we arrived. We parked our car at the Lincoln Home parking and first went to the
Visitor Center because free tour tickets are available at the center.In the photo above, the visitor center is seen on the right-hand side, behind
the metal fence.
This is the Information Desk inside the Visitor Center. We got free tickets for the Lincoln Home tour here. All the park rangers looked happy after
the government shutdown was over.
This photo shows the main floor of this visitor center. There is a map of the Old Springfield on the left. There are two movie theaters in
the back, where short movies about the life of Lincoln are shown daily. On the right you see a replica of the life castings of Abe Lincoln head and hands.
Click on the photo to make the photo larger.
This is the replica of the life castings of Abe Lincoln head and hands. A sculptor named Leonard Volk invited Lincoln to his studio and took the
mold of Lincoln's face in 1860. Later in the same year the sculptor visited Lincoln's Springfield home and made the mold of Lincoln's hands. These
castings became one of the most valuable resources for the later artists who wanted to draw Lincoln. Click on the photo to enlarge it.
This is the map of Downtown Old Springfield. You see the east from the west. The left is the north while the right is the south. On the left side you
see the Old State Capital (which is the two story building with the brown dorm on the top). Two streets back of it is Seventh Street. When you trace
the street to the right (or to the south), you get to the vast green area. This is the present Lincoln Home National Historic Site. The street that
runs along the right end of the State Capital is Adams Street. When you trace the street to the east (or upward on the map) two blocks and cross
Seventh, you get to the present Hilton Springfield. Click on the photo to enlarge it.
This photo shows the meeting place for the free tour. Do you see some people gathering in the far back of the photo? That is it. We almost missed the
start of the tour and a ranger in charge looked somewhat irritated by us who came late. Click on the photo to enlarge it.
Our park ranger stops us here in front of the entrance to Lincoln Home and is telling an introductory story about Lincoln and his home. He might be waiting
for the group just before us to complete their tour and leave the Lincoln Home.
This is the back parlor of the Lincoln Home. The description plate tells that in this room Lincoln met with the delegates from the National Republican Convention, who asked him
to accept the Republican candidacy for the next President. Four days after that Lincoln decided to accept that offer. The back parlor was usually used
for Lincoln's office and study.
This is the guest room of the Lincoln Home. The relatives and friends of Lincoln stayed in this room while they visited Lincoln. His son also stayed
in this room when he came back from his prep school and college.
This is the sitting room. According to the description plate, Lincoln's children often spent time in this room, playing games and reading books. The family dog Fido also spent time here.
This was the place where the family got together and relaxed. Click on the photo for its enlargement.
The kitchen was the center of activity in the Lincolns' home according to the description plate. The wife Mary and her hired girl were here making meals
for the family. There were times when another cook joined in them because the Lincolns occasionally invited a few hundred people for their parties!
Mr. Lincoln's role in the kitchen was to milk the cow and fetch firewoods. Imagine Lincoln who meakly followed the orders of the women in the kitchen.
How nice he really looks as a good husband! The parkranger, our guide, said that when Lincoln decided to purchase this stove he first wanted to put it by
his side for comfort. But Mary wanted it in the kitchen, and Lincoln accepted that. Ever since did this stove become a very powerful tool for the
women's actitities in the house. Click on the photo to enlarge it.
This is the backside of the Lincoln Home. I took this photo from the backyard.
This is the backyard of the Lincoln Home. The garden path paved with wood boards leads to the back fence by which an outhouse stands. I wonder how on earth the Lincolns
dared to go to that place in the middle of cold winter when they had to go to the bathroom!
This is a closer view of the outhouse. There are two toilets inside, one of which is large enough for grown-ups and the other of which is small because
it is for children.
Now we are leaving Lincoln Home through the backyard. Our rather low voiced parkranger is leading us out to the exit.
This is the view just outside of the Lincoln Home backyard. Just on the previous day the government shutdown was over, and people after peoole were
visiting this site as if they were celebrating the reopening of this site. However, calmness kind of overwhelmed us here just outside of
the backyard. Click on the photo for its enlargement.
School boys and girls were heading to the Lincoln Home tour, replacing us. They were probably middle schoolers.
Students (and some grownups too) are gathering just in front of the Lincoln Home. You can see the whole view of the house in this photo. I felt this was a really beautiful
scene becasue I thought it represented a moment that a very important aspect of the American history is handed over to a younger generation. Click on
the photo to enlarge it.
Day Five continues to the nexts page.
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