Springfield IL, Lincoln’s resting place

I’m really late posting things. By the end of the day of driving and touring, and with sometimes iffy wifi, I’ve gotten delay, but here goes on trying to catch up.

Springfield IL was were Abraham Lincoln taught himself law (yup, that’s right) and was practicing. Here he married Mary Todd and started having children. And it was here that he got involved in politics and ended up running for President — just 2 years after getting elected to the legislature.

There is an excellent Lincoln museum and presidential library here and I was moved to tears many times after going through the films and exhibits. It is run by the State since presidential libraries were only federally mandated by Herbert Hoover. Illinois does a great job honoring its favorite son.

Standing with models of Lincoln's family
Me with the Lincolns
Stats on Slavery
contemporaneous depictions of Lincoln
And if you think current politicians are pilloried…
Lincoln aging over time
What 5 hard years did to Lincoln

And then there is Lincoln’s tomb. In a gorgeous veterans cemetery that reminded me of Mt Auburn. Its big, but fitting for who it contains.

People rub Lincoln’s nose for luck. I rubber it wishing luck for our country…..