The Lincoln Home Through the Years

Above, the Lincoln Home in 2016. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

One of the more interesting places I visited during my 2016 trip to Metropolis, Illinois for actress Noel Neill's celebration of life was Springfield, Illinois.

Springfield was the hometown of President Abraham Lincoln. There, visitors can visit the Lincoln home, Presidential Library and Museum, the Lincoln tomb at Oak Ridge Cemetery along with other places.

Above, one of the rooms inside the Lincoln Home. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

The National Park Service has a website focusing on the Lincoln Home through the years. Along with photos, the page describes in detail highlights of the home over the years.

They begin it with:

For seventeen years, the house at Eighth and Jackson Streets in Springfield, Illinois was home to Abraham Lincoln and his family. Purchased shortly after the birth of their first son Robert, the home sheltered the family through the birth of their remaining three sons and the death of their son Eddie, and had been the center of Lincoln's life as a husband and father. Abraham Lincoln was elected to be the 16th President of the United States on November 6, 1860. The family had three short months to prepare for their move to Washington, D.C. As they made the many decisions related to such a significant move, they had to decide if the home would be a part of their future, as well as their past. The home was rented rather than sold and their best furniture placed in storage for their eventual return. But on April 15, 1865, an assassin's bullet took the life of President Lincoln. Mary Lincoln faced a lonely future and wrote that she "could not bear to return to the scenes of the happiest times in my life without my family." The Lincoln Home remained rental property until Lincoln's son, Robert, donated the home to the State of Illinois in 1887 to be protected and preserved for future generations. In 1972 the home was conveyed to the United States of America, which through the National Park Service continued the State's work in preservation and restoration of the home, along with acquisition and restoration of the surrounding four-block neighborhood. This photographic essay captures images of Lincoln's house, showing that his home, like his legacy, has survived the years well.

This page provides an overview of the photographic essay. Click on the thumbnail views to download the full-screen pictures.

To read more, go here. 

160 Years Since Lincoln Assassination

Above, Lincoln's Tomb in 2016. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

Next month will mark 160 years since the assassination of President Abraham Lincoln.

In 1982, I visited Ford's Theater and the Peterson House in Washington, D.C. I visited Lincoln's Tomb, Home, Presidential Library & Museum in Springfield, Illinois in 2016.

Above, the Presidential box at Ford's Theater in 1982. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

Last night, I was viewing some YouTube videos of Lincoln's tomb at Oak Ridge Cemetery in Springfield. 

Most of them were informative and they mainly covered the same ground, but one in particular made the biggest impression on me.

 

It was,  "The Secrets of Lincoln's Tomb - A Memorial for the Ages" by Grave Explorations (above). It was an hour-long documentary on Lincoln's final years, funeral and tomb along with many other historical tidbits. 

Above, the burial chamber of the Lincoln Tomb. He is not directly
 under the red marble cenotaph, he is ten feet under the floor and six
 feet from the north wall. His head faces the west. Photo by Armand Vaquer..

After a foiled attempt to steal Lincoln's body in 1876, Lincoln's coffin was encased ten feet in concrete under the floor by the orders of son Robert Lincoln. This followed the second of two renovations of the tomb. 

Above, Lincoln's Tomb at Oak Ridge Cemetery in 2016. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

During my 2016 visit to Lincoln's Tomb, I was the only visitor there. I was able to get a personalized tour with a cemetery docent. He provided me with interesting details on the tomb.

Above, yours truly in front of Lincoln's Tomb in 2016.

Visitors to Oak Ridge Cemetery can also see the receiving vault that housed Lincoln's and one son's remains after arrival from Washington. 

A photo of Lincoln in his coffin was discovered in 1952 by a 14 year old Lincoln enthusiast,  Ronald Rietveld, among the Nicolay-Hay Collection of Lincoln papers. The photograph was originally kept by Edwin M. Stanton, Lincoln's Secretary of War. It was the sole surviving photo of Lincoln in his coffin after others were ordered destroyed by Stanton. 

Above, the discovered photo of Lincoln in his coffin in New York City on April 24, 1865.

For more information on Lincoln's Tomb at Oak Ridge Cemetery, go here.

Lost 1915 Lincoln Movie Found

Above, the Gutzon Borglum bust of Abraham Lincoln at the Lincoln Tomb. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

Many films produced during the silent era have either deteriorated awayt due to their nitrate content or just lost. One notable movie considered lost is London After Midnight (1927) starring Lon Chaney. 

A 1915 silent film on Abraham Lincoln, starring Francis Ford, the brother of director John Ford, was also considered lost. But, fortunately, has recently been found.

MSN reported:

NEW YORK — A 1915 movie about the life of Abraham Lincoln, previously thought lost forever, was found on Long Island.

“The Heart of Lincoln,” released by Universal, is a silent film about American life during the Civil War. It was directed by and stars Francis Ford — the brother of legendary director John Ford — as the 16th president.

The film was discovered by intern Dan Martin at Lauro’s Historic Films Archive in Greenport while he was going through boxes of material donated to the archive.

The 65-minute movie had previously been listed by the Library of Congress as one of 7,000 silent films thought to be lost forever. Many silent films were lost because they were printed on highly volatile nitrate film stock, according to Newsday.

Film archivist Eliot Kissileff told NBC New York that he was able to digitize the 16-millimeter print.

“I guess it was just lucky the cans were sealed and had not decayed,” Kissilef told the station.

To read more, go here. 

Coal Lincoln Bust

Last week, when I went into Gallup with Larry Lucier to have the new tire mounted for the Jeep, Larry saw a vendor selling bags of coal across the street from the tire dealer. He bought one.

At the time, I mentioned that I have a piece of coal carved into a bust of President Abraham Lincoln. I bought it in 2016 at a gift shop near the Oak Ridge Cemetery in Springfield, Illinois, the site of Lincoln's Tomb.

As today is Lincoln's Birthday, here's a photo of the coal Lincoln bust:

 

Abe's Day

Above, Abraham Lincoln depicted in a display at the Abraham Lincoln
 Presidential Museum in Springfield, Illinois. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

Today is Lincoln's Birthday.

This is the day that the birth of the 16th president, President Abraham Lincoln, is commemorated. Some states still recognize it as a holiday, while others just observe Presidents' Day.

According to Wikipedia:

Lincoln's Birthday is a public holiday in some U.S. states, observed on the anniversary of Abraham Lincoln's birth on February 12, 1809, in Hodgenville, Kentucky. Connecticut, Illinois, Indiana, Michigan, Ohio, California, Missouri, and New York observe the holiday.

In many other states, Lincoln's birthday is not celebrated separately, as a stand-alone holiday. Instead, Lincoln's birthday is combined with a celebration of President George Washington's birthday (also in February) and celebrated either along with the Federal holiday of Washington's Birthday or as Presidents' Day on the third Monday in February.

History

The earliest known observance of Lincoln's birthday occurred in Buffalo, New York, in either 1873 or 1874. Julius Francis (d. 1881), a Buffalo druggist, made it his life's mission to honor the slain president. He repeatedly petitioned Congress to establish Lincoln's birthday as a legal holiday.

Above, the Lincoln Family at the Abraham Lincoln Presidential Museum. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

In many areas, the Republican Party commemorates Lincoln's Birthday with Lincoln Day Dinners as Lincoln was the first Republican president. 

Ford's Theater Video

Above, the front of Ford's Theater in 1982. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

Last evening, I watched the following video on President Abraham Lincoln's assassination sites of Ford's Theater and the Peterson House.

I had visited both in June 1982 when I went to Washington, D.C. to attend a White House reception for the 1980 California Delegation to the Republican National Convention in which I was a delegate. 

The video shows what visitors can see in both locations. The displays at Ford's Theater are much more elaborate than when I visited. At the time of my visit, there wasn't as many displays. One display I saw was the suit Lincoln was wearing when he was shot. 

The Deringer pistol John Wilkes Booth used to shoot Lincoln is now on display at Ford's. I don't recall seeing it there in 1982. It was put on display there in 1940.

There were a few more displays at the Peterson House. Since it is a small place, there wasn't too many more. 

While watching the video, I was thinking that I should make a return trip to Washington. 

Here's the video:

Cross-Country RV Trips A Thing of The Past?

Above, Fort Massac State Park Campground in Metropolis, Illinois. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

The closest thing to a cross-country RV trip was when I drove from California to Metropolis, Illinois to attend Noel Neill's (Lois Lane of the Adventures of Superman) memorial service.

It was quite an adventure for me as I got to see many states and attractions (Abraham Lincoln's home, tomb and Presidential Library in Springfield, Illinois for example). The trip lasted three weeks.

A new article in RV Travel questions whether or not cross-country RV travel is becoming a thing of the past due to fuel and campground costs.

They start it with:

I have long dreamed of the day my wife and I could depart on a cross-country RV trip. Now that we are retired and able to travel more, I question if cross-country RV trips are still viable, or will remain just a dream.

Cross-country RV trips have long been a beloved way for individuals and families to explore the diverse landscapes and cultures of a country. The freedom of the open road, the comfort of a home on wheels, and the sense of adventure have drawn countless enthusiasts to embark on these journeys. However, the future of cross-country RV trips is facing challenges that may make them a thing of the past. In this article, we will delve into the changing dynamics of cross-country RV travel and explore how escalating fuel expenses, rising campground fees and the erosion of spontaneity are reshaping this cherished tradition. 

To read more, go here. 

Anthony Berger and Abraham Lincoln

Above, the Lincoln print hanging in my bedroom Photo by Armand Vaquer.

Last night, I was watching the Steven Spielberg film Lincoln (2012) starring Daniel Day Lewis and Sally Field and Tommy Lee Jones.

Afterwards, I was looking at the framed Abraham Lincoln painting print I have hanging in my bedroom and wondered who painted it. I bought it at a garage sale years ago and thought it may have been hung in a schoolroom somewhere. It is 10.5 x 13" in size. My Internet search yielded no answers as to the identity of the artist, but I did find that the portrait was based on a photograph taken on February 9, 1864 by photographer Anthony Berger. 

Above, the Lincoln photograph by Anthony Berger.

Berger took a number of photographs of President Lincoln on that day. Two of them were used for the five dollar bill. The one on the current five dollar bill is the same pose as the print in my bedroom.

Above, the current five dollar bill with the Berger Lincoln image.

Above, a 1953 Silver Certificate five dollar bill with an Anthony Berger-based Lincoln portrait.

I did find a webpage, that details the photographic history of the February 9, 1864 photographic session with Berger, February 9, 1864: Lincoln’s Magical Photographic Session with Anthony Berger. It is an interesting read and I highly recommend it. 

U.S. Mint Issuing Lincoln Silver Presidential Medal May 1

 

Above, the Lincoln Silver Presidential Medal. Image by the U.S. Mint.

President Abraham Lincoln will be honored with a presidential silver medal issued by the U.S. Mint.

It will be issued on May 1. 

According to the Numismatic News:

The medal contains one troy ounce of 99.9 percent fine silver. It measures 1.598 inches in diameter.

To be honest, I am not impressed with the image of Lincoln on the coin. It just doesn't look right to me. The Lincoln penny has a far better image of the 16th president.

With the current spot price of silver at around $25.11/toz, The medal's price tag of $75.00 is a bit too pricey.

"The Unbelievable Journey of Abraham Lincoln's Corpse"

Above, the sarcophagus chamber of the Lincoln Tomb
 with the red marble cenotaph. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

Six years ago, I paid a visit to Springfield, Illinois to see the attractions of President Abraham Lincoln.

The places visited included the Lincoln Presidential Library and Museum, the Lincoln home and the Lincoln tomb at Oak Ridge Cemetery.

Above, yours truly in front of the Lincoln Tomb in 2016.

Last night, I came upon an interesting documentary video, "The Unbelievable Journey of Abraham Lincoln's Corpse" by Grave Explorations.

I highly recommend viewing it. 

One interesting factoid from the video: in the burial (or sarcophagus) chamber of the tomb, Lincoln isn't buried within or below the red marble cenotaph in the chamber. He lies ten feet below the floor and six feet from the north wall (where the former doorway is) with his head to the west.

Here is the video:

The 1943 Lincoln Steel Cent

Above, 1943 steel Lincoln pennies of World War II found in a strongbox. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

Back in the 1960s, I started collecting coins with an album of Lincoln pennies. To date, it is about 99% completed. Back when I first started it, I was pleased to have obtained the World War II steel pennies. 

During the first full year of U.S. involvement in World War II, to conserve copper, the U.S. Mint made pennies out of steel for one year (1943). 

These pennies are relatively easy to find and are inexpensive.

A few months ago, when I had a strongbox opened, I found inside several 1943 steel Lincoln pennies among other coins (1964 Kennedy half dollars, Franklin half dollars and others). 

The American Numismatic Association has an article on the 1943 steel Lincoln pennies, calling them "The Most Compelling Collectible".

They begin it with:

There are a lot of fascinating things in numismatics. There are coins from ancient empires, and coins from every corner of the modern world. Coins have survived shipwrecks, or centuries buried underground. There are coins made of precious gold and silver, and from enough other metals to cover a big chunk of the periodic table. And there are coins that portray virtually every element of human endeavor, with countless images of history, nature, and culture.

But if you want just one, single item to convey the essence of numismatics, one coin with a story so captivating that it evokes all of the best elements of the hobby, the choice is easy. The most compelling numismatic collectible is the 1943 steel cent. 

To read more, go here.

The Lincoln Assassination: Everything You Need To Know

For you Civil War era history and Abraham Lincoln buffs, I found an interesting video on Lincoln's assassination on April 14, 1865 at Ford's Theater in Washington, D.C.

It is "everything you need to know" about the Lincoln assassination by Mr. Droste History.

Above, the actual Presidential Box at Ford's Theater where Lincoln was shot. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

Above, the Presidential Box recreated at the Lincoln Museum in Springfield, Ilinois. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

The video:

Above, President Lincoln's tomb at Oak Ridge Cemetery in Springfield, Illinois. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

"Complaint" Has Lincoln Bust and Plaque Removed From Cornell University

Above, a statuette of Abraham Lincoln in a hallway at the
Lincoln Tomb in Springfield, Illinois. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

The "cancel culture" has hit New York's Cornell University.

The University removed a bust of President Abraham Lincoln and plaque commemorating the Gettysburg Address from the library without any word as to the reason(s) why, except some malcontent apparently "complained" about it.

According to Breitbart:

A professor at Cornell University says the school’s library has removed a bronzed Gettysburg Address plaque and a bust of President Abraham Lincoln after somebody complained.

“Someone complained, and it was gone,” Cornell professor Randy Wayne told the College Fix, referring to a Gettysburg Address plaque and Lincoln bust that had been on display in the Ivy League university’s Kroch Library since 2013.

The professor said that he had noticed that the items were gone after stopping by the library several weeks ago, adding that when he asked the librarians about it, they were unable to give any details, other than saying it was removed as a result of some type of complaint.

The plaque and bust have been replaced with, “Well, nothing,” Wayne told the College Fix.

While it remains unclear as to why the plaque and bust have been removed from Cornell’s library, the call to remove U.S. historical figures on college campuses is a bizarre new trend among students in what is becoming an increasingly irascible society.

To read the full article, go here. 

Today's Pilgrimage To Lincoln's Tomb

Above, Abraham Lincoln's final resting place. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

If I were in Springfield, Illinois today, I would likely be at the Oak Ridge Cemetery for the annual American Legion pilgrimage to Lincoln's Tomb, which is held to commemorate Lincoln's Birthday. Today's pilgrimage to the tomb begins at 10:00 a.m.

According to a press release posted at My Radio Link:

SPRINGFIELD – The 88th annual National American Legion Pilgrimage to the Tomb of Abraham Lincoln will take place Friday and Saturday, Feb. 11-12, in Springfield.

Springfield Post 32, the American Legion and its Auxiliary organizations are sponsoring this event in commemoration of the 16th President’s birthday. Springfield Post 32 is the only organization that has honored Lincoln on his birthday annually for 88 consecutive years.

Paul Dillard of Texas, the national commander of the American Legion, representing 2.4 million
American war veterans, will lead this year’s pilgrimage. He will be joined at the event by officers from national and state veterans organizations, as well as local elected officials and others.  

The ceremony at the Lincoln Tomb at Oak Ridge Cemetery in Springfield will begin at 10 a.m. Saturday. National officers and the various state delegations will place wreaths inside the tomb, followed by remarks commemorating Mr. Lincoln’s importance to the nation.

I visited the Lincoln Tomb in November 2016.

Above, yours truly in front of Lincoln's Tomb.

To read more, go here.

Lincoln's Birthday

Above, a display of Abraham Lincoln studying at the Abraham Lincoln
 Presidential Museum in Springfield, Illinois. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

Unless you're as old as I am, you probably are unaware that today is President Abraham Lincoln's birthday.

Since 1971, Lincoln's Birthday and Washington's Birthday holidays were combined into one holiday on the third Monday in February called Presidents Day (or President's Day) by the Uniform Monday Holiday Act. That was 51 years ago. I still remember when we had two school holidays in February before the Act.

As today is Lincoln's Birthday, here's what Wikipedia has to say about it:

Lincoln's Birthday is a legal, public holiday in some U.S. states, observed on the anniversary of Abraham Lincoln's birth on February 12, 1809 in Hodgenville (Hodgensville, Hodgen's Mill), Kentucky. Connecticut, Illinois, Indiana, Ohio, Texas, California, Missouri, and New York observe the holiday.

In many other states, Lincoln's birthday is not celebrated separately, as a stand-alone holiday. Instead Lincoln's Birthday is combined with a celebration of President George Washington's birthday (also in February) and celebrated either as Washington's Birthday or as Presidents' Day on the third Monday in February, concurrent with the federal holiday.

To read more about Lincoln's Birthday, go here.

Dinner With Lincoln

Above, President Abraham Lincoln's final resting place. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

This evening, over dinner, I watched the 2012 Steven Spielberg movie, Lincoln, starring Daniel Day-Lewis and Sally Field. I usually manage to get around to it at least once a year.

Above, the Lincoln Home in Springfield, Illinois. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

It has to be one of the best Abraham Lincoln movies Hollywood has produced.

It reminded me of my trip to Illinois four years after its release where I visited the Abraham Lincoln Library & Museum, the Lincoln home and Lincoln's tomb in Sprinfield. That visit to Springfield was capped off by watching the 2016 election returns in my motorhome at the Double J RV Park just outside of Springfield.

Above, a Cabinet Room meeting at the Lincon Museum. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

If one is interested in the life of President Lincoln, I would heartily recommend a visit to Springfield and bring the kids if you have any. It is well worth the trek there.

Above, yours truly at the Lincoln Tomb. 

Atlas Obscura's "Ultimate" National Park Guide

Above, Mammoth Hot Springs at Yellowstone National Park. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

Tomorrow is April 1 and that means that summer vacation season is not too far away. Now is a good time to think about where to go.

To help in the decision-making process, Alas Obscura has posted their "ultimate guide" to America's national parks. There are some tidbits that are quite interesting, some of which I was unaware of.

They start it out with:

In June 1864, President Abraham Lincoln signed a bill that declared the Yosemite Valley in California a protected wilderness area. A few years later, in 1872, it became the first official national park in the United States [Actually, Yellowstone has the distinction of being the first U.S. national park. Yosemite became a park first, but as a state park. - A.] —and the first in the world. Since those early days, the parks system has grown and expanded, and now encompassing more than 84 million acres. But its core mission has remained the same: “To preserve unimpaired the natural and cultural resources and values of the national park system for the enjoyment, education, and inspiration of this and future generations.”

With that kind of mission and scope, it’s no wonder that Atlas Obscura has amassed quite a collection of places in the national park system over the years. In this list, we’ve gathered some of our favorite spots in and around the parks. From a shipwreck in Yellowstone to 5,000-year-old trees, each represents a unique natural wonder or chapter of the American story. 

Be sure to visit each park’s website and social media accounts to get the latest information on openings, closures, and how to support them. If you do choose to venture out, please follow all guidelines, maintain social distance, and wear a mask. 

To read more, go here. 

Outside's Ultimate Yosemite National Park Guide

Above, an early morning view of Yosemite Valley. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

Summer vacation season is only a little over four months away and one of the most popular places to visit is Yosemite National Park in Central California.

For those contemplating a vacation at Yosemite, an "ultimate guide" to the park has been posted by Outside magazine's website that may prove to be useful, particularly for those visiting for the first time.

They begin it with:

It’s no exaggeration to say that some of the most formative outdoor experiences of my adult life happened at Yosemite National Park in California. It’s where I went backpacking for the very first time (and where I learned that you do not, in fact, need to haul along a full-size pillow and roughly ten pounds of Swedish Fish in order to survive). It’s also where I completed my first multi-pitch climb, saw my first bear, and dug my first cathole (necessary after viewing my first bear). I even completed my first long-distance hike, a two-month stint on the Pacific Crest Trail, which meandered through the park’s Tuolumne Meadows, where Alex Honnold offered me a wave from one of his famous paws as he loped off into the woods. 

Climbing superstars aside, Yosemite is one of the most—if not the most—iconic national parks in the United States. It’s a perpetual bucket-list topper for good reason. Yosemite features some of the world’s tallest granite walls, a parade of thundering waterfalls, and colossal domes and peaks carved in part by the ferocious power of ancient glaciers and volcanoes. It teems with wildlife, from fuzzy little pikas to majestic (and endangered) Sierra Nevada bighorn sheep. And it plays with extremes, resting at around 1,800 feet elevation at its lowest point and rocketing to more than 13,000 feet at its highest—the glacier-draped Mount Lyell.

But for all that magic, Yosemite also gets a bad rap for being overrun with tourists. (Reality check: unless you live there, you’re also a tourist.) The thing is that while the popular Yosemite Valley draws crowds year-round, it’s actually incredibly easy to find solitude in the park—after all, the Valley occupies only a tiny slice of Yosemite’s nearly 760,000 acres, almost 95 percent of which are designated wilderness. 

Though the framework for this park was established in 1864, when President Abraham Lincoln signed the Yosemite Grant Act, these vast lands have a much longer human history, one that you should learn before setting off for adventure. The same actions that reserved this park for the public also forced out its original inhabitants, who included the Ahwahneechee, Me-Wuk, Mono, and Paiute peoples; their ancestors still hold deep ties to the area today. Consider reading Mark David Spence’s Dispossessing the Wilderness for crucial context on some of the more unpleasant history behind Yosemite’s formation and that of several other national parks.

To read more, go here. 

Abe's Day

Above, Lincoln studying, as depicted at the Abraham Lincoln Museum in Springfield, Illinois. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

Today is President Abraham Lincoln's birthday.

He was born on February 12, 1809 in Hodgenville, Kentucky.

Above, Lincoln's home in Springfield, Illinois. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

Above, Lincoln's Tomb in Springfield, Illinois. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

Top States For National Park Trips

Above, the home of President Abraham Lincoln is part of the National Park Service system. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

Ever wondered what are the top states that have parks administered by the National Park Service? 

There's more to he park service than just the national parks. 

Above, the Lincoln Home in Springfield, Illinois. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

News-Press Now has an interesting article on the top states who have the most parks administered by the National Park Service. Surprisingly, New Mexico (my home state) comes in at number eleven.

They begin with:

With air travel down, many Americans are hitting the road during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Assuming local regulations allow for it, exploring the outdoors can be a good way to vacation safely during this turbulent time. Fortunately, many National Park System parks remain open with fewer visitors than during a normal year.

The National Park System is managed by the National Park Service, which oversees 422 different parks that span more than 80 million acres across all 50 states. While some of the most visited parks are recreational areas, parkways and national parks, the National Park System is comprised of many different types of parks, including monuments, memorials, battlefields and historic sites. In fact, less than one-third of annual visits are to the 62 parks with “national park” in their name.

To read more, go here.