Springfield, Illinois - Land of Lincoln

Springfield is the capitol of Illinois and is an Abraham Lincoln centric city. Everything is Lincoln this and Lincoln that and Lincoln the other thing. Springfield was home to Abraham Lincoln for the 24 years preceding his ascendency to the Office of President of the United States. At the time of Lincoln's inauguration, 7 states had already seceded from the union and would soon be followed by 4 more.

That so much of Lincoln's life was lived in Springfield is what brought us to this town.

Located in Springfield are the Lincoln Home, the Lincoln Tomb, the Lincoln Depot, the Lincoln Presidential Library and Museum, and a bunch of other Lincoln sites. We visited the library – pretty ho-hum, the Museum – outstanding, the Lincoln Home – interesting, and the Lincoln Tomb – amazing.

The Presidential Museum contains life-size dioramas of Lincoln's boyhood home, areas of the White House, the presidential box at Ford's Theater, and an immersive scene of Lincoln lying in state at the old state capitol.

The Lincoln Home preserves the home and a 4 block surrounding historic district where Lincoln and his family lived from 1844-1861. The house, purchased by Lincoln and his wife, Mary Todd Lincoln, is the only home that Lincoln ever owned. The home contains twelve rooms spread over two floors. Robert Lincoln, of the 4 Lincoln sons the only one to survive to adulthood, gave the home to the state of Illinois in 1887 under the condition that it would forever be well maintained and open to the public at no charge.

Lincoln's Tomb in Oak Ridge Cemetery is the final resting place for Lincoln, his wife Mary and 3 of their 4 sons. The Tomb is a walk through museum of sorts. It contains a rotunda a burial room and and connecting corridors. There are bronze statues of Lincoln depicting him through the years, 36 bronze panels, one for each state at the time of his death, and the burial room has a gold leaf ceiling. It is truly a fitting tribute to an amazing man.

We have had several presidents that were “the right man, for the right job, at the right time” but none more so than Abraham Lincoln who led our country from disunion and civil war to the beginning of reconstruction and being One Nation Under God once again.

Springfield's other claim to fame is being the city where the Corn Dog, under the name of “Cozy Dog” was invented. Seriously, what would a county fair be today without corn dogs?

                                                             Wants a Corn Dog!