September 9, 2015

A great day touring Lincoln's house, the Lincoln Museum, the Lincoln Presidential Library, The Lincoln Memorial at the Oak Ridge Cemetery, The Union Station where scenery, props and costumes of the movie "Lincoln" are displayed...and got our kicks on route 66.

The first stop found Grammie making a visit to the home of Abraham and Mary Lincoln.  Two years after moving in, he won a seat in the US House of Representatives as a member of the Whig Party, but only served one term ending in 1849 until 1860 when he became the first Republican elected as President.

Back then, the candidates did not go to a national convention.  They stayed home.  The picture below is where Lincoln received the nomination as the party candidate...in his own home, in his parlor.  He did not officially accept the nomination until 4 days later by written response.

You notice Lincoln reading a book while 2 of his boys were raising "you know what" in his Law Office.  Lincoln's philosophy was that he believed his sons should be "free, happy, and unrestrained by parental tyranny."

We left the home and went to the Lincoln Museum where we took lots of pictures but the most meaningful one we came away with was a quote from his 2nd Inaugural Address.

In the Museum gift shop, guess what we found?

We found Grammie again!

We drove to the Lincoln Memorial and burial site which is found in the Oak Ridge Cemetery in Springfield. This cemetery is the nations 2nd most visited cemetery just after Arlington. 

After Lincoln died, in May following his death, he along with Eddie who was transferred from the Hutchinson Cemetery, and Willie who died while living in the White House in 1962 were placed in a temporary tomb until 1871.

In 1871, before the present memorial was completed, they were then moved into the final resting place.  Abraham, Mary and three sons are there.  The fourth (oldest) son (Robert Todd) was buried in Arlington after he died in 1926.  Lincoln's vault is behind and 10 feet below the Marble Monument.

 The following chart identifies the descendants of Abraham and Mary Lincoln.  There are no direct living descendants after Robert Todd Lincoln Beckwith died in 1985.

Finally after reading and walking and picture taking, it was time to eat.  We rode down the
Old Route 66 until we got to the Cozy Dog Drive In featuring...the Corn Dog.  Fries, onion rings and coleslaw to boot.

 Thanks for catching up with our travels.