For 17 years of his life Abraham Lincoln called the city of Springfield, Illinois home. He bought the now-famous house in 1844 and moved in with his new wife, Mary and his son Robert. The home was much different at first, as you can see in the album. During his time in Springfield Lincoln rose from being a local lawyer, to congressman, to president-elect of the United States. Unfortunately Lincoln was never able to return in life to Springfield from Washington. After his assassination, the president's body was returned to his home town and laid to rest at Oak Ridge Cemetery.
The Abraham Lincoln Historic Site contains Lincoln's home and 12 additional structures that have survived since Lincoln's time. On a whirlwind tour, I was able to visit the Historic Site in its entirety along with many of the remaining structures remaining around town to which Lincoln was connected, finishing with his tomb...
The Abraham Lincoln Historic Site contains Lincoln's home and 12 additional structures that have survived since Lincoln's time. On a whirlwind tour, I was able to visit the Historic Site in its entirety along with many of the remaining structures remaining around town to which Lincoln was connected, finishing with his tomb...
Mary's Bedroom - Common for the time period, Abraham and Mary slept in separate bedrooms. According to our guide this was as much to do with Lincoln working many late nights as it was to privacy...
The Kid's Room - This is where the four Lincoln boys would spend their nights, across the hall from their parents.
Hired Girl's Room - With such a busy schedule, family, and large home the Lincoln's needed some help around the house. This modest room was home to their live-in maid.
The Kitchen - back on the ground floor at the back of the home...
The back of the Lincoln home from the street...
Harriett Dean House (ca. 1850's) - Mrs. Dean purchased this property from Lincoln in 1850. She was a widower with only one son who lived in St. Louis, Missouri.
Henson Lyon House (ca. 1850's) - In 1860 this house was occupied by Henson Lyon and his family. Mr. Lyon at the time was a retired farmer and land speculator and was fairly wealthy.
William Beedle House (ca. 1840) - Mr. Beedle, a railroad fireman, rented this home from a Mrs. Ann Walters who owned this property as well as the adjacent house where she lived (no longer standing).
Empty lots like this are scattered amongst the homes of the Lincoln neighborhood. These were not vacant during Mr. Lincoln's time but rather these spaces mark the locations of structures that for what ever reason have not survived to the present day.
Julia Sprigg House (ca. 1851) - This small home was purchased by Mrs. Sprigg in 1853. Julia was a close friend of Mrs. Lincoln and occasionally she, or her daughter, babysat the Lincoln boys.
The Sorcerers of Smug are adding new magic right now, so we're in window shopping mode. We'll provide more updates here on our Status Blog.
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