Springfield is the capital of the state of Illinois and Abraham Lincoln spent most of his adult life here. These two facts become very clear, very quickly when you visit. My primary reason for coming here was to visit the Lincoln Presidential Library and Museum and to see the Lincoln Home National Historic Site but, whenever I talked to people, the sorry state of the Illinois economy, its rising debt and political corruption always seemed to come up.

The highlight of the day was definitely the Lincoln Presidential Museum. Although most Americans know the basics of Lincoln’s life – humble beginnings, self taught reader, became a lawyer, always advocated for equality and unity, became president which provoked the civil war, emancipated southern slaves and was murdered at Ford’s Theater – I find that visiting a targeted, local museum usually provides so much more texture and context that I get connected to the events or characters at a much deeper  personal level. This is what happened today. The museum’s exhibits were innovative and interesting so that everyone could appreciate the issues influencing and affecting Lincoln’s life but there was also plenty of reading material for those who wanted to explore the issues in more detail.

After visiting the museum I went to the Lincoln Home site which is managed by the National Park Service and took a tour of the home that Lincoln and his family occupied for the 25 years before he became President. I was impressed by how many of the contents were original and it was interesting to hear stories about the family but I probably should have done this before visiting the museum.

Before leaving Springfield  for the 70 mile  drive to Peoria I took the opportunity to wander around the State Capitol building. It is unusual among State Capitols in that visitors, after going through security, can explore the public areas independently.  You can see the exterior of this magnificent building at the start of today’s short video which is here.

The old Illinois State Capitol building which Lincoln often visited as a lawyer and where he delivered several influential addresses before becoming president.

The main rotunda of the Lincoln Presidential Museum

The Lincoln Home, and the surrounding blocks, have been restored to their 1860 appearance.

Sitting on a table in the living room was this device which is an early stereoscopic viewer where specially printed sheets could be inserted and create a 3D effect.
We often hear about who has stayed in the Lincoln Bedroom at the White House but here is the real Lincoln bedroom and nobody stays here.