Land of Lincoln, Part Two

October 16, 2010

When we first heard about the new Abraham Lincoln Presidential Museum and Library in Springfield, we thought it sounded like the perfect museum. That was five years ago and we put it on the list as soon as we decided to go as far as Illinois.

This is a huge complex in downtown Springfield, with many other historic sites within walking distance, or a short drive away.

Brochures tell you to plan 2-3 hours and we easily spent three hours and didn't even get to the library.

The plaza is what the large main area of the museum is called and all exhibit areas are off that main area.  It's a large, domed area. You can only take photos in the plaza and the children's area (Mrs. Lincoln's Attic) so we couldn't take any inside the exhibits themselves, but the attention to detail and the things you might only notice after being there many times makes these just surperb exhibits. From the crackling fireplace and dog at his feet while Lincoln the boy read at night (notice the dangling arm of a sibling in the loft above) to the heat you feel walking through the White House kitchen, the chill in the alcove where Mary Lincoln sat and grieved for her son, and exhibits made  of a combination of live actors, memorabilia and life-like figures--- we were just impressed over and over.

The exhibits are designed to take you through Lincoln's life and death, beginning with his log cabin childhood (photo above) and ending with his funeral. You can enter any exhibit you choose, not only in chronological order, and there are also two theaters, plus a gift shop and a new temporary exhibit based on Doris Kearns Goodwin's book,  Team of Rivals, which depicts Lincoln's struggle with impending war and with his cabinet.

Oh, and the items in the Treasure Gallery, a combination of donations and purchases from the Barry and Louise Taper Collection....WOW!!

As you can see, Bob stopped for a brief photo op with the Lincolns.

A few blocks away is the restored neighborhood where the Lincolns resided before going to Washington, DC. The house to the left is that of the Lincoln's but there are two full blocks of restored homes, many of which can be toured, plus the streets and sidewalks, landscaping and other period details--there is a carriage step-stone in front of the Robinson home and a couple of wagons on the street. This is a pedestrian area only, but there is parking nearby and a parking lot about a block away. Notice the wooden ramps? Not mandatory handicapped-access, but they are period details, designed to keep mud off long skirts.

Our final stop in Springfield was Oak Ridge Cemetery where the Lincolns are buried---it's considered good luck to rub Lincoln's nose on the statue outside.
Built into the hill behind the tomb is the receiving vault where Lincoln's body was held until the tomb was finished.