Springfield, Illinois

 After the first track meet in Ann Arbor, Jim and I hit the road for a quick trip around the Midwest. Our first stop was Springfield, Illinois. We started our day at the Abraham Lincoln Presidential Library and Museum. The first exhibit, that we entered via a replica of Lincoln’s boyhood Kentucky cabin, focused primarily on Lincoln’s early years through his presidential campaign. The other main exhibit, that we entered via a replica of the White House, focused on Lincoln’s presidency through his assassination. It was very informative and extremely well done.

Jim standing at the entrance to the first exhibit

The one room cabin in which Abraham Lincoln lived with 6 other family members while in Kentucky.

The entrance to the 2nd exhibit that focused on Lincoln's presidency

A few blocks from the museum is the Lincoln Home National Historic Site. At this site, we were able to tour the home that Lincoln owned and lived in as a young lawyer in Springfield. It was where he started his family and was his last residence before becoming the 16th president of the United States.

Lincoln's Springfield home

To complete a day full of Lincoln history, we visited Lincoln’s tomb in Oak Ridge Cemetery. The tomb is the final resting place of Abraham Lincoln, his wife, and three of their children. Unfortunately, the tomb was closed for tours when we were there, but we walked around the exterior of the impressive monument.

We had a few hours drive that afternoon to our next stop - Saint Louis, Missouri.