| Please Take a Virtual
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The
Abraham Lincoln Home |
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The Lincoln Home and Neighborhood is one of only two National Parks in Illinois. The two-story home of Abraham Lincoln, the only home he ever owned, was sold to the government for one dollar by his only surviving son, Robert, with the stipulation that it would always be open to the public. The house was constructed in 1839 as
a 1 1/2-story cottage. Another ½ story was added by Mrs. Lincoln.
Abraham and Mary Lincoln lived here from 1844 until Mr. Lincoln's election to the Presidency in 1861. The home, which has been restored to its Quaker Brown 1860s appearance, reveals Lincoln as husband, father, politician, and President-elect. It stands in the midst of a four-block historic neighborhood, which the National Park
Service is restoring so that the neighborhood, like the house, will appear much as Lincoln would have remembered it. |
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The Abraham Lincoln Monument |
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| The 117-foot tall granite
tomb contains the bodies of Lincoln, his wife Mary, and
three of his four sons - Edward, William and Thomas (Tad).
Robert, the oldest son, planned to be buried in this tomb
with his parents and brothers. When his own son, Abraham
Lincoln II ("Jack") died in 1890, he brought the body to the
Lincoln tomb. However, his wife, Mary Harlan Lincoln, chose
a gravesite in Arlington National Cemetery instead, where
Robert was buried in 1928 and Jack was moved in 1930. |
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The Abraham Lincoln Statuary |
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| Designed by Vermont
sculptor Larkin Mead, the tomb features famous Lincoln
statuary. It's worth a visit just to see the sculpture, both
inside and out. Visitors often stop to rub the nose of this
evocative bronze bust at the entrance. It's the work of
Gutzon Borglum, who is most famous for his rendition of
Lincoln at Mount Rushmore. You can see the original marble
bust in the U.S. Capitol in Washington, D.C. |
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Abraham Lincoln's Tomb Chamber |
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| In the sarcophagus
chamber, veterans hold ceremonies on Lincoln's birthday,
placing memorial wreaths by the red marble grave marker. On
the back wall, you can read Secretary Stanton's tribute,
"Now he belongs to the ages." Lincoln's body rests in a
reinforced concrete vault beneath the floor, a precaution
taken by his son Robert after an attempt was made on the
body. Lincoln's wife and three sons are buried in the
opposite wall, while Robert lies in Arlington National
Cemetery. |
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The Long Nine Museum |
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| The strange-sounding title
for this museum comes from the nickname given to Abraham
Lincoln and eight others who represented Sangamon County in
the Illinois General Assembly during the 1836-37 legislative
session. All these men were at least six feet tall and
shared similar political principles, hence the "Long Nine"
appellation. |
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The Vachel
Lindsay Home |
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| Across the street from the Executive Mansion is the Vachel Lindsay home, named for the famous poet who made it his lifelong residence. It was built in 1846 by the same designer-builder as the Lincoln home. The Lincolns were guests here while the house belonged to Mr. and Mrs. Clark Smith, Mary Lincoln's sister and brother-in-law. The Smiths hosted
parties here in Lincoln's honor, including a gala reception before he left for Washington. |
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The Lincoln Family Pew |
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| The First Presbyterian
Church in downtown Springfield contains a pew the Lincoln
family rented in a previous building (no longer standing).
The Lincolns became associated with the congregation in 1850
after the death of their son Edward. Abraham Lincoln never
visited this church, however, because it was built after he
died. Mary Lincoln belonged to the church, so her funeral
was held here in 1882. |
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The Lincoln Ledger |
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| Today the Lincoln ledger
is preserved in the bank lobby in a custom-built case
decorated with bas relief sculpture on three sides. The case
depicts Lincoln as his friends in central Illinois knew him:
pioneer railsplitter, storekeeper and law student, and state
representative. The ledger book is opened to the Lincoln
account, where "A. Lincoln" appears at the top, written by
his banker, Robert Irwin. After Lincoln left Springfield for
Washington, Irwin made transactions as his local agent.
After Lincoln's death the account continued in the name of
David Davis, administrator of the Lincoln estate, until May
27, 1867. |
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Please Contact Us
today for our special Tour pricing for Senior Citizens, Veterans and Groups
of 10 or more.... |
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Make sure and visit our new online store
for special offers on exciting Abraham Lincoln products and
memorabilia. You will find them very entertaining and
educational.
Order now and receive a free Historic CD filled with Lincoln E-Books!
"Abraham Lincoln: Famous Speeches & Proclamations"
Now available on CD.
Click on the Products page & listen to audio excerpts
More Products coming soon!
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