Early, we headed for Springfield, Illinois, but it wasn't bright. Heavy grey clouds hung low, threatening rain. "I'd say those were snow clouds, if I didn't know it was 44 degrees outside," I told Andy. But 44 felt frigid when two days ago the thermometers read 85 degrees.The Visitor Center at the Abraham Lincoln Springfield Home National Historic Site offered a film about Abraham Lincoln's life in Springfield, the years between his beginnings as a lawyer and his departure for Washington, D.C. as the 16th President of the United States. And Lincoln had every intention of returning to the comfortable upper middle-class life in the Illinois capitol. He asked his partner not to remove his shingle from their office in town, just as William Herndon was unhooking the placard from the front of the building.
"I'll be back to take up where we left off," he told the partner.
Lincoln had come to Springfield as a young, self-educated country boy. He rented a room from Joshua F. Speed, the general store owner, and ultimately they became lifelong friends. He arrived on horseback from New Salem in 1837, with all his worldly possessions in two saddle bags. To him Springfield was the big city; it was really just a village of 400 inhabitants with mud streets and livestock running at large. Regardless, it was a lonesome place for a young man emerging from grinding poverty. He broke off his engagement with a girl from New Salem, because he felt uncomfortable in the Springfield world of social flourish and felt she would be out of place in "big city" society.
Lincoln's biographer wrote, "From an ill-trained fledgling lawyer, compelled by his poverty to share a bed in a friend's room above the store, to a leader in the Illinois bar," Lincoln improved his status in society through his hard work, his honesty and his wits.
But by rubbing elbows with the political elite, he met upper-class Mary Todd and was instantly enamored by her charm. Before their marriage, he had saved enough to have a modest sum of money in the bank. In 1844, they purchased their Springfield home for $1,200 from Reverend Charles Dresser, the minister who married them in 1842. The purchase also included plots of land.
Lincoln's biographer wrote, "From an ill-trained fledgling lawyer, compelled by his poverty to share a bed in a friend's room above the store, to a leader in the Illinois bar," Lincoln improved his status in society through his hard work, his honesty and his wits.
The Lincoln-Herndon Law Office flourished between 1843 and 1852, in great part because of Lincoln's diligence, hard work and honest, forthright manner. When he served in Congress from 1847 to 1849, his partner maintained the practice.
Abe and Mary lived happily in the Greek Revival-style house for 17 years.
The family spent many hours together in the sitting room, but the chairs were not built for a man who was six feet two inches tall.
Because of his height, Lincoln needed a special bed. "This bed really IS six feet nine inches long," said the ranger stationed in the bedrooms. "You can see that Mary's bedroom is much fancier. It was common practice to have separate bedrooms in those days," said the ranger, "and with four boys, she would retreat to her room for privacy."
Mary's niece wrote that the 1860's house was irresistible. "Their little home was painted white and had green shutters. It was sweet and fresh, and Mary loved it. She was exquisitely dainty, and her house was a reflection of herself with everything in good taste and in perfect order."
In 1856, the Lincolns enlarged the house to two full stories to accommodate a growing family. Three of the four Lincoln sons were born here, and one son Edward died here in 1850 of what was probably tuberculosis at the age of four.
The family spent many hours together in the sitting room, but the chairs were not built for a man who was six feet two inches tall.Because of his height, Lincoln needed a special bed. "This bed really IS six feet nine inches long," said the ranger stationed in the bedrooms. "You can see that Mary's bedroom is much fancier. It was common practice to have separate bedrooms in those days," said the ranger, "and with four boys, she would retreat to her room for privacy."Mary's niece wrote that the 1860's house was irresistible. "Their little home was painted white and had green shutters. It was sweet and fresh, and Mary loved it. She was exquisitely dainty, and her house was a reflection of herself with everything in good taste and in perfect order."
I asked the ranger if the busy wallpaper, carpeting and accents were a reflection of the "daintiness" of Mary. He just said it was a sign of the times and that once she had ordered something from the East or from abroad, she couldn't very well return it.
Andy and I listened to one ranger who was stationed in the kitchen. "Mary loved to entertain," she said. "She did all the cooking in this little kitchen. One description of a party said she fed 300 guests from this stove and we know she planned birthday parties with as many as 40 or 50 children for her sons, a highly unusual practice in the 1800's."
Mary's sister Frances Todd Wallace came often to plant flowers in the front yard. Neither Abe nor Mary planted trees, and, unlike their neighbors, they only had a garden one year. They were busy raising four boys, who were described as "rambunctious and undisciplined," since both Abe and Mary were lenient parents.
Andy and I listened to one ranger who was stationed in the kitchen. "Mary loved to entertain," she said. "She did all the cooking in this little kitchen. One description of a party said she fed 300 guests from this stove and we know she planned birthday parties with as many as 40 or 50 children for her sons, a highly unusual practice in the 1800's."Mary's sister Frances Todd Wallace came often to plant flowers in the front yard. Neither Abe nor Mary planted trees, and, unlike their neighbors, they only had a garden one year. They were busy raising four boys, who were described as "rambunctious and undisciplined," since both Abe and Mary were lenient parents.
In 1856, the Lincolns enlarged the house to two full stories to accommodate a growing family. Three of the four Lincoln sons were born here, and one son Edward died here in 1850 of what was probably tuberculosis at the age of four.
We walked the gravel and crushed stone streets and the wood plank sidewalks. "That's so the women with their long skirts wouldn't get all muddy," said the tour guide. Other houses in the neighborhood have been rebuilt and renovated to their 1860's appearance.
When Lincoln won the Republican Presidential nomination in 1860, he received the delegation of party officials in his parlor. In 1861, when he left for the White House, he held a farewell reception and then sold most of the furniture and rented the house. A neighbor kept the Lincoln family dog. When Lincoln was President, Springfield drew visitors like a magnet, and the area became a focal point for parades, rallies and other political festivities. But the family never returned.
Robert Todd Lincoln, the only son who survived to adulthood, donated the home to the National Park Service with two stipulations: that it never be sold and that all visitors could tour free of charge and see the "real" Abraham Lincoln.
When Lincoln won the Republican Presidential nomination in 1860, he received the delegation of party officials in his parlor. In 1861, when he left for the White House, he held a farewell reception and then sold most of the furniture and rented the house. A neighbor kept the Lincoln family dog. When Lincoln was President, Springfield drew visitors like a magnet, and the area became a focal point for parades, rallies and other political festivities. But the family never returned.
Robert Todd Lincoln, the only son who survived to adulthood, donated the home to the National Park Service with two stipulations: that it never be sold and that all visitors could tour free of charge and see the "real" Abraham Lincoln.
Finally, as the raw wind brought in rain, we stopped across town at the Lincoln Tomb.
On April 15, 1865, the day President Lincoln died, a group of Springfield citizens formed the National Lincoln Monument Association and spearheaded a drive for funds to construct a memorial or tomb. It wasn't until 1871, three years after construction started, that the bodies of Lincoln and his three youngest sons were placed in crypts in the unfinished structure. After temporary burial sites and at least one attempt at stealing the body, Lincoln was permanently interred here in 1887, more than 21 years after the assassination. He was reburied with his wife in a brick vault beneath the floor with remembrance to honor his service to America and his greatness in preserving the Union.
On April 15, 1865, the day President Lincoln died, a group of Springfield citizens formed the National Lincoln Monument Association and spearheaded a drive for funds to construct a memorial or tomb. It wasn't until 1871, three years after construction started, that the bodies of Lincoln and his three youngest sons were placed in crypts in the unfinished structure. After temporary burial sites and at least one attempt at stealing the body, Lincoln was permanently interred here in 1887, more than 21 years after the assassination. He was reburied with his wife in a brick vault beneath the floor with remembrance to honor his service to America and his greatness in preserving the Union.
The Tomb, designated a National Historic Landmark in 1960, was listed on the National Register of Historic Places on October 15, 1966.
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