Springfield, 2010

We had the opportunity to accompany my husband down to Springfield for the day because he had some architectural plans to submit to the appropriate licensing board down there. While we were down there we visited a few interesting sites.

THE LINCOLN MUSEUM

Abe, Mary and the Lincoln boys agreed to pose with the girls and their dad for a quick picture at the Lincoln Museum. This is seriously one of our favorite places to visit--if you haven't been there, it is a very informative and moving experience.

I wish this picture had turned out clear, because the girls were so excited to see one of Lincoln's three remaining stove pipe hats known to be in existence. It is made out of felted beaver fur, and has a couple worn spots on the brim where Lincoln's two fingers wore bare spots by tipping his hat to passers-by. He was known for slipping important notes into the inside lining of his hats.

There are many wax figures re-enacting important moments in Lincoln's life and presidency. This and the following picture depicts Lincoln's cabinet and himself debating over the Emancipation Proclamation. His cabinet was filled with people of many differing opinions on the matter.



Although impressed by the stove-pipe hat, the girls were in awe of Mary Todd Lincoln's gown, and the many lovely gowns of her social rivals.

One of many busts of Lincoln in the museum.

THE CAPITOL BUILDING

A really beautiful building...

This statue commemorates the hardworking women of the First Colombian Expedition...I believe in 1853.

This was right before we sat in on a session of the House.

This is the view from the balcony. I wish I had taken video. Before we entered, we read a big posted sign that said, in a nutshell: "Upon entering, proper decorum is required. Be courteous, no eating or drinking, keep quiet, and watch with awe at the democratic process in action". (Okay, that was sarcastic, because I know what happened next.) We prepped the girls about how serious and special a place this was...a place where important decisions were made for us as citizens of the state of Illinois. Well, once the doors were opened, I truly thought they must have been on recess...like on an elementary school playground type recess...because of the noise that I heard. But then I realized that there was indeed a representative speaking from somewhere in the room, but no one was listening. There were people flipping through the sports pages, slurping big gulps, talking on cell phones, surfing the web, chatting with small groups of colleagues, laughing and chatting in big groups of reps. Then a vote was called, a bunch of buttons were pressed, and votes were instantly tallied. All while no one seemed to be listening to a thing that was spoken by the person explaining the details of the bill.

When we left the room, I turned to the two security guards stationed outside the door. I pointed to the sign on proper decorum, and I asked "why don't they make the people on the floor of the House abide by these rules?". The one older security guard just nodded and said "that's what everybody who visits says...they prepare their children for a sober and dignified view of the goings-on of government, and they almost all walk away disappointed and/or surprised". We had a short conversation about the current state of affairs, and walked away. Frustrated, sad and angry...all at once.

Upside? Very beautiful chandeliers. :)

A view of the dome.


LINCOLN'S TOMB

While my husband was in his meeting, we ventured out and about in Springfield and followed the signs to Lincoln's tomb. It was a very interesting and touching visit. The statues on top of the tomb depict Lincoln holding the emancipation proclamation, surrounded by an eagle with a broken chain in its claws, and on the four corners of the building there are statues of the four branches of the military. All are made from 64 canons donated to the site in 1871.

We paid our respects inside. Ten feet below this crypt, the body of Abraham Lincoln lies surrounded by steel and concrete.

In the main lobby of the tomb. A kind gentleman volunteer offered lots of information on the site, Lincoln and lots of symbolic meanings behind elements of the structure. He was impressed by how much the girls knew about our 16th president. Yes, a moment of gloating from their teacher! ;)

Outside Lincoln's Tomb. He was a good man, and we long for the day when those of his kind can be found in government once again.