What is there to see in Illinois?
This was a morning filled with Lincoln memories in Springfield.
Lincoln Tomb
This is a magnificent tomb memorializing a great man. It is located in Oak Ridge Cemetary which is open from 9am to 5pm. We were able to enter the tomb and contemplated the sacrifice that Lincoln made for his country.
Lincoln Museum
Our appreciation for Lincoln continued in the Lincoln Museum. There are a few very life like set exhibits here and a theater, also a rotating exhibit that currently is about music history. I really appreciated that the exhibits showed some of the darker sides of history. I appreciate seeing the good and bad of humanity and being allowed to come to my own conclusions.
Presidential Library
The Library is right across the street from the Museum. Currently, you have to reserve a spot to do research in the upper levels but everyone is allowed on the main floor, which has just a few art pieces.
Then we wandered around Springfield a little more and saw a lot; the Old State Capitol that’s currently undergoing renovations, Lincoln’s old law office, and Lincoln’s home and visitor center (This place feels like you’ve stepped back in time. It’s free and you’re able to go into the home with a time slot ticket.), to name a few.
State Capitol
We stopped at the Capitol on our way out of town. I could not get enough of this building. Breathtaking.
Carthage Jail
This is the location where the first President of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints was martyred. It’s interesting to read more into the history and sad when a series of misunderstanding between groups of people lead to this type of result. Having said that, I appreciate and admire people that are willing to give their lives for others survival and for a greater cause. I don’t expect there to be any perfect people in history, but I do believe Joseph Smith was one of the greats.
From here, we drove to Nauvoo Illinois and spent the night in the Willard Richard’s Bed and Breakfast. But first, we went and watched the sunset on the Mississippi at the end of the Trail of Hope. What a grand way to end a day.
