Abraham Lincoln's Springfield, IL (8-22-09)

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...

Springfield, IL (ca. 2009)
Abraham Lincoln's Home
springfield abraham lincoln president civil war memorial monument tomb history national park
Lincoln Home (ca. 1844-1846) - This is how the Lincoln home looked when he purchased it in 1844...he didn't waste any time starting the remodeling...
springfield abraham lincoln president civil war memorial monument tomb history national park
Lincoln Home (ca. 1846-1854) - As you can see, Lincoln made quite a few changes the first couple years he owned the home. It wasn't until 1854, ten years after he purchased the house that he started on the improvements that resulted in the two-story structure we see today...
springfield abraham lincoln president civil war memorial monument tomb history national park
springfield abraham lincoln president civil war memorial monument tomb history national park
Sitting Room - This room just inside the entryway on the ground floor is where Lincoln and Mary entertained their guests. The children were expressly forbidden to enter this room.
springfield abraham lincoln president civil war memorial monument tomb history national park
Dining Room
springfield abraham lincoln president civil war memorial monument tomb history national park
The Living Area - Ground floor
springfield abraham lincoln president civil war memorial monument tomb history national park
An 1861 doorbell...call me simple but I found this to be one of the more fascinating highlights of the home:)
springfield abraham lincoln president civil war memorial monument tomb history national park
springfield abraham lincoln president civil war memorial monument tomb history national park
Lincoln's Bedroom - It was a bit crowded in Lincoln's room so this was the best shot I could get. This is the only room in the house that the wallpaper design is known to be accurate to Lincoln's time here...
springfield abraham lincoln president civil war memorial monument tomb history national park
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...
springfield abraham lincoln president civil war memorial monument tomb history national park
The Kid's Room - This is where the four Lincoln boys would spend their nights, across the hall from their parents.
springfield abraham lincoln president civil war memorial monument tomb history national park
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.
springfield abraham lincoln president civil war memorial monument tomb history national park
The Kitchen - back on the ground floor at the back of the home...
springfield abraham lincoln president civil war memorial monument tomb history national park
The back of the Lincoln home from the street...
springfield abraham lincoln president civil war memorial monument tomb history national park
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.
springfield abraham lincoln president civil war memorial monument tomb history national park
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.
springfield abraham lincoln president civil war memorial monument tomb history national park
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).
springfield abraham lincoln president civil war memorial monument tomb history national park
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.
springfield abraham lincoln president civil war memorial monument tomb history national park
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.
springfield abraham lincoln president civil war memorial monument tomb history national park
Allen Miller House (ca. 1851) - Mr. Miller, his wife Clarissa and children lived here along with Clarissa's brother and his wife. Miller was a successful leather dealer at the time who also had business in tinware and stoves. Though in beautiful condition, the house has been changed some since 1860 and the park service has plans to restore it to its original appearance.
springfield abraham lincoln president civil war memorial monument tomb history national park
Not sure the story on this...I assume it to be a replica of a unique wagon used by Lincoln during one of his campaigns. As you can see, Mr. Lincoln was not embarrassed by his humble beginnings but rather used them to relate to working-class Americans.
springfield abraham lincoln president civil war memorial monument tomb history national park
Jesse Dubois House (ca. 1859) - Mr. Dubois, Auditor for the State of Illinois, was a close friend of Lincoln and an important political ally. The closeness of their friendship is evidenced in Mr. Dubois naming one of his sons Abraham.
springfield abraham lincoln president civil war memorial monument tomb history national park
George Shutt House (ca. 1850's) - George Shutt was a young lawyer and rented this house in 1859. I'm not sure how well he and Mr. Lincoln got along as Shutt supported Stephen Douglas in his campaign against Lincoln in 1860.
springfield abraham lincoln president civil war memorial monument tomb history national park
Henson Robinson (ca. 1863-66) - This home technically didn't exist during Lincoln's time in Springfield. It was built by Robinson who at the time owned a business selling stoves and furnaces. During the Civil War he was also a supplier of cups and plates to Union troops.
springfield abraham lincoln president civil war memorial monument tomb history national park
Solomon Allen Barn (ca. 1850's) - Originally there was also a home on this property but the barn is the only thing left. In fact, according to the info plaque, this barn is the only existing outbuilding left in the neighborhood. Many of the houses in the area would have had similar structures on the property with them.
springfield abraham lincoln president civil war memorial monument tomb history national park
Sarah Cook House (ca. 1850's) - Mrs. Cook rented this building beginning in 1860. She sublet a couple of rooms to support herself and her kids. She also ran a photo studio out of the home.
springfield abraham lincoln president civil war memorial monument tomb history national park
Charles Arnold House (ca. 1830's) - Charles Arnold was one of Lincoln's important political friends. He served as County Sheriff twice for the Whig Party. Arnold lived here from 1850-1879.
springfield abraham lincoln president civil war memorial monument tomb history national park
Lincoln-Herndon Law Offices (ca. 1840-41) - Lincoln practiced law out of this building from 1843-1852. William H. Herndon ran the practice during Lincoln's term as congressman. The ground floor is open to the general public and has many interesting displays. To visit the second and third floors, however, you must follow the guided tour for a small fee.
springfield abraham lincoln president civil war memorial monument tomb history national park
Lincoln-Herndon Law Offices (ca. 1840-41) - Lincoln practiced law out of this building from 1843-1852. William H. Herndon ran the practice during Lincoln's term as congressman. The ground floor is open to the general public and has many interesting displays. To visit the second and third floors, however, you must follow the guided tour for a small fee.
springfield abraham lincoln president civil war memorial monument tomb history national park
Old Illinois State House (ca. 1837-40) - The Old Illinois State House served as the official state house from 1840-1876 after which it served as the Sangamon County Courthouse until 1966. Lincoln had an important role in moving the state capitol to the town of Springfield and served his final term as State Representative from 1840-41. The old capitol building is open to the public and guided tours are available for those who want a more in-depth experience.
springfield abraham lincoln president civil war memorial monument tomb history national park
Old Illinois State House of Representatives - A stovepipe hat signifies the place where Abraham Lincoln sat during his term here from 1840-41.
springfield abraham lincoln president civil war memorial monument tomb history national park
Great Western (Lincoln) Depot - Lincoln passed through this building on two important occasions. The first, on February 11, 1861, saw him leaving for an uncertain future as President of a country falling apart. The second, he returned a martyr, a savior who had successfully guided the United States through its darkest hours and paid the ultimate sacrifice for his service.
springfield abraham lincoln president civil war memorial monument tomb history national park
Lincoln's Tomb (ca. 1874) - On the day President Lincoln died certain Springfield residents banded together to form the National Lincoln Monument Association. Monies were gathered to provide a fitting resting place for the man who had given so much in service to his country. Lincoln, his wife Mary, and three of his four sons (Edward, Willie, & Tad) are interred here.
springfield abraham lincoln president civil war memorial monument tomb history national park
Lincoln's Burial Room...the incription above reads "Now He Belongs to the Ages," the famous words uttered by Secretary of War William Stanton on word of Lincoln's death.
springfield abraham lincoln president civil war memorial monument tomb history national park
Lincoln's Burial Chamber - The resting place of Lincoln's two middle sons Edward and William, both taken at very young ages.
springfield abraham lincoln president civil war memorial monument tomb history national park
Lincoln's Burial Chamber - The resting place of Mary Todd Lincoln, wife of Abraham.
springfield abraham lincoln president civil war memorial monument tomb history national park
Lincoln's Burial Chamber - The resting place of Lincoln's favorite son "Tad" who died at age 18 from TB.
springfield abraham lincoln president civil war memorial monument tomb history national park
Lincoln Burial Chamber - Robert Lincoln was the only Lincoln child to survive childhood. He is recognized here but is actually buried, as indicated, at Arlington National Cemetery.
springfield abraham lincoln president civil war memorial monument tomb history national park
Lincoln's Tomb (ca. 1874) - On the day President Lincoln died certain Springfield residents banded together to form the National Lincoln Monument Association. Monies were gathered to provide a fitting resting place for the man who had given so much in service to his country. Lincoln, his wife Mary, and three of his four sons (Edward, Willie, & Tad) are interred here.
springfield abraham lincoln president civil war memorial monument tomb history national park

dwhike

Abraham Lincoln's Springfield, IL (8-22-09)