LINCOLN's SPRINGFIELD, ILLINOIS HOME

IT's BEEN YEARS SINCE I WANTED TO TOUR THE LINCOLN HOUSE IN SPRINGFIELD, ILLINOIS.  Being able to tour the house was a surprise as I had checked to see if they were open to the public before we headed out to Illinois.  From their website, they said they were closed to the public due to covid.  Knowing the Museum was open would be what we could tour as well as to walk on the grounds of the neighborhood of his house.  So we went to Illinois to see the museum and walk the neighborhood grounds.

As we drove from St. Louis to Springfield, I thought the countryside looked a great deal like Kansas.  Open fields and being able to see so much countryside.  It was a pleasant day to travel.  Refreshing.  We went looking for the LINCOLN HOUSE and found it.  Decided to go ahead and walk the grounds.  This is when my husband saw a Ranger open the front door of Lincoln's home and decided to ask him if the house was open to tour.  Yes, it was and we could get a ticket to tour it from the Visitor Center.

So we did.  First we watched a movie then we waited for the guide to come and get us.  No guide showed up.  Back to the desk to tell them what hadn't happened.  We were allowed to go with a group headed toward the house.  We were inside before we knew it.  Inside the front Parlour being a double Parlour.  The back Parlour was once their Bedroom before they built the upstairs with four bedrooms.

I didn't hear the tour guide say it, but I had heard before that Mary Todd Lincoln had the second floor put on the cottage while Abraham was away and when he returned home he didn't know where he was at, because his home was a single floor cottage.

The second floor was financed by Mary who sold 80 acres of ground her dad had deeded to her.   Also when President Lincoln was an attorney, his father-in-law gave him a case that made Lincoln quite wealthy.  The story of rags to riches had some help. 

INSIDE THE FRONT DOOR

INSIDE THE FRONT DOOR ARE THE STAIRS AND A HALLWAY GOING TOWARD THE DINING ROOM.

ONCE inside to the left is the Front Parlour opening into the Back Parlour making for a large eloquent room.  Light colored cotton blend wallpaper with green leaves and gold leaf floral on the walls with a wool carpet of White roses and green leaves on Burgundy background.  The long wool with silk blend draperies echo the Burgundy coloring of the carpet.  When draperies or lace panels puddled on the floor, it was a statement of wealth.  Horse hair upholstery for the furniture.  What Not shelves on both sides of fireplace. 

 

Funeral Services were held in the Front Parlour for their second born son, Eddie that died a month before his fourth birthday.  Both Abraham and Mary were devastated.  10 months after little Eddies death, the Lincolns welcomed their third son, Willie.  

  

BACK PARLOUR WITH ANOTHER SOFA, 

GLOBES ON BOTH SIDES OF THIS SOFA, 

BOOK CABINET.

Looking from the Dining room into the passage way beside the stairs and front door was a Hall Tree where Lincoln hung his hat and coat. 

Off of the Back Parlour was the Dining room.  I loved the green colored drapes.  Mary Todd Lincoln often fixed Almond Cake, 

one of Abraham's favorites.

Sorry the images are so blurry.  Not the best, but they still help me to recall the interior of this home.  The Dining room wallpaper. was light with flowers.  This is how Mary brought nature inside.

Onto the Sitting room which is the Family room where the children played, Mary sewed and Abe wrestled with his children.  The Ranger said that if you don't remember anything else about Lincoln remember that he was a wrestler and loved stray cats.  He'd pick them up and carry them home releasing them inside their house.  Meow.  I don't think they had littered boxes then so I'm not sure how that would smell. 

Bright reds with taupe, green, and blue make the room what it is.

TAKE A BREAK BEFORE MOVING UPSTAIRS 

TO THE BEDROOMS 

and exiting through the KITCHEN.

I could have just sat down and took it all in 

while looking the rooms over.

It truly is like entering into a different time zone.

Visiting the Lincoln House and Museum can be crossed off my bucket list.

Next, the Bedrooms and Kitchen plus walking the neighborhood.  

I hope to go again,

d👵

AT THE VISITOR's CENTER: