Abraham Lincoln Burial Site, Springfield, IL

So, it seemed only fitting, while in Springfield August 21, to visit Abraham's final resting place.  After all, this would be the "end of the story", if Paul Harvey ever penned those words...The President's family is interred with him here as well, except for one son.

From Wiki:  Lincoln Tomb is the final resting place of the 16th President of the United States, Abraham Lincoln, his wife, Mary Todd Lincoln, and three of their four sons. It is located in Oak Ridge Cemetery in Springfield, Illinois. At the close of the events marking Lincoln's death, his body was placed in a nearby receiving tomb and later in the state tomb. The mausoleum is owned and administered by the State of Illinois as Lincoln Tomb State Historic Site. It was designated one of the first National Historic Landmarks in 1960, and thus became one of the first sites listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1966, when that designation was created.

Above is the receiving tomb where the Mr. Lincoln was placed prior to relocating up the hill and in background, the permanent mausoleum. 

The residence for the custodian hasn't been used for years, but is still used as office and storage space.

Some of these bronze statues below were made from former cannons from the Civil War era.

Inside the mausoleum are several cast bronze statues of the caricature of Mr. Lincoln.

We never knew that such efforts were made for Mr. Lincoln and his family.  This is truly an extraordinary final resting place for one of America's greatest heroes.  Arguably, the greatest leader we ever had.

I found this storyboard most interesting.

So, that is about all we have on the burial site of Abraham Lincoln in Springfield, IL.  Oh, one more pic I want to add here, is one of my Aunt Darlene.  She is my Mother's youngest Sister and she resides here in Springfield with her daughter Nora and Son Blake.  Her husband, Samuel "Lee" Carrier was my Father's younger Brother, passed away about 10 years ago.

Love you Aunt Darlene...RVing Beach Bums signing off from Stephens Point, WI.

Lincoln Home National Historic Site, Springfield, IL

We traveled on up the road to Springfield, IL and purposely visited the home of Abraham Lincoln, August 21.  After visiting his birthplace in KY and boyhood home in IN several days before while camped in Fort Knox, we just had to follow up and finish the "rest of the story", as Paul Harvey once said.

Above, Nancy waiting to pay for parking space at the NHS.  Notice the Ranger providing instructions   on how the process works,,,hmmm!

From Wiki:  Lincoln Home National Historic Site preserves the Springfield, Illinois home and a historic district where Abraham Lincoln lived from 1844 to 1861, before becoming the 16th President of the United States. The presidential memorial includes the four-blocks surrounding the home and a visitor center.  His home wasn't huge, but large by 1850's standards.

Above, Nancy chatting with an era role player, and another just to her left in the brown jacket.  Later, we would meet a very renown Lincoln role player.

Here a few pics from the inside of his home.  We were told by the guide that 90% of the furnishings here are authentic Lincoln artifacts.  What a treasure!

Above/below, After our tour through the house we moved on to the back of the home where we joined in a twenty minute chat with Mr. Lincoln.  This man is incredible!  Fritz Klein, looks, acts and sounds so much like we have come to learn how Mr. Lincoln really was.

Klein, who has been acting since 1970 and playing Lincoln exclusively since 1980, says sometimes he even fools himself.  “Once in a while,” Klein says, "I do feel like I have some presidential authority.  Once in a while, there’s a glimmer.”  While living in Hawaii in 1976, Klein initially turned down the role of playing Lincoln in a community play.  “But a professional makeup artist said to me, ‘Let me show you what we can do with you,'” Klein said.
Since that first performance, Klein has portrayed Lincoln in feature films in both the U.S. and in Europe, and can count on one hand how many roles he’s turned down, including the most recent: “Abraham Lincoln: Vampire Hunter.”

Klein and his family moved to the Continental U.S. in 1980, wanting to settle down in a place where tourism would play a big role in the community. The perfect fit was Springfield, Ill., where Klein portrays Lincoln at the Abraham Lincoln Presidential Museum, convincing thousands of what he himself first had to be convinced.  

His mannerisms and speech and colloquiums are so period and so Abraham Lincoln, country bumpkin self-taught genius.

All I can say is that if you ever are within 100 miles of Springfield, IL, go to this National Treasure of a place.  And if you're lucky, you may just see Mr. Lincoln himself, even if 160 years or so removed.  He can be seen in either his dark or white summer suit usually, but always in character, so be prepared to role play.  He relishes the dialogues.

And he is quite the story teller, as was the real Mr. President.  His pre-president days found him frequenting his favorite places in the community or down certain dusty roads to share his many stories he shared from his countless evenings growing up reading everything he could get his hands on.

His home and little community here in near-downtown Springfield is eye-catching as well as educational for everyone.  There are several period homes and structures that have been restored, and a few are open for visiting inside.  

Just about four blocks or so to the north west stands the State Capital building.  We enjoy walking the majestic halls of capital buildings as they too capture so much history of each State's past while reflecting the rule and leadership of the current day.  So exciting, this travel thing we've been on for the past four years.

So, that's about we have on the home of our most popular if not our greatest President this country has ever produced, Abraham Lincoln of Springfield, IL.  So till the next blog, RVing Beach Bums signing off from Stephens Point, WI., Sept 15.

Ulysses S. Grant National Memorial & St Louis Friendships

From Wiki:  The Gateway Arch is a 630-foot-high monument in St. Louis, Missouri. Clad in stainless steel and built in the form of a flattened catenary arch, it is the tallest man-made monument in the Western Hemisphere, Missouri's tallest accessible building, and the world's tallest arch. Built as a monument to the westward expansion of the United States, it is the centerpiece of the Jefferson National Expansion Memorial and has become an internationally famous symbol of St. Louis. The arch sits at the site of St. Louis' founding on the west bank of the Mississippi River.

Above, Miss Nancy standing under the Arch, after the video, “Lewis and Clark: Great Journey West” in the Odyssey Theater.  

Above, under the huge arch in the basement, are several attractions, museum, and two theaters.  Great tourist traps.  We were there!  :-)  And I bought a L & C history book.

The waterfront on the banks of the Mississippi River, a large renewal and revitalization is underway, and I'm told by our local friends, Bob & Lourene Clark, that it is going to be beautiful when completed...you got it, another serious tourist trap.  

Bob & Lourene, who now reside in Ballwin, are members of the Lafeyette Church of Christ, where Bob is the pulpit minister and Lourene is a very active not-in-title Deaconess there.  She does everything there, except preach or serve in any official deacon/elder capacity.  We have known these two hard-working wonderful people for over 30 years, specifically when he was our minister back in the 80's & 90's in Chesapeake, VA.

Above, Bob & I after Sunday services in the Lafayette Church, after a fine step-on-you-toes sermon.  Are there any other type?  Below, Nancy & Lourene, (holding her left-over piece of pizza from lunch.

Above, Lourene doing the engineering for the acapella group that was practicing in the auditorium prior to services.

A couple more views of an engineering marvel

While in St Louis, we took in a side tour of the Ulysses S Grant NM.  From Wiki:  Ulysses S. Grant National Historic Site is a 9.65-acre National Historic Site located 10 miles southwest of downtown St. Louis, within the municipality of Grantwood Village. The site, also known as White Haven, commemorates the life, military career, and Presidency of Ulysses S. Grant. Five historic structures are preserved at the site including the childhood home of Julia Dent Grant, wife of Ulysses S. Grant.  The couple lived in the home from 1854 to 1859.  White Haven was a plantation worked by slaves at the time Grant was married to his wife in 1848 and remained so until the end of the American Civil War.

Above, White Haven Homestead (not so white these days) and below, our NPS guide for the short tour through the grounds.

We spent more time chatting with the two guide about history, other National Parks and other items of US History, than actually exploring the grounds.  Still, it was an interesting time in the Site.

Ulysses S. Grant served two terms as president, from March 4, 1869 until March 4, 1877. He was the eighteenth president, following Andrew Johnson and preceding Rutherford B. Hayes.  

Julia's Father, Colonel Fredrick Dent, and Grant had many a heated discussions over politics and the topic of slavery.  White Haven itself has a storied history and anyone wanting to explore this topic, would enjoy the events surrounding it and Mrs Dent.

Well, that's a wrap on our visit to St Louis, this 19th day of August.  We enjoyed our time there, especially with our dear friends, Bob & Lourene, and look forward to being with them again in the not so distant future.  So, from Stephens Point, WI, RVing Beach Bums signing off, Sept 15, 2014.