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. 

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:

 

"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:

"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.

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. 

In The "Land of Lincoln" On Election Night 2016

Above, The Beast at the Double J Campground in Chatham, Illinois. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

Tomorrow is Election Day.

It will hopefully have the same result as Election Day in 2016 with a Trump victory. This time, I will spend Election Night at home.

Four years ago, I was in the state of Illinois on the longest road trip I've ever taken. It was three weeks long. 

Above, watching the returns on Election Night 2016. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

On Election Day in 2016, I watched the returns in my motorhome at the Double J Campground in Chatham, Illinois, which is on the outskirts of Springfield. The Land of Lincoln!

It was a long election night and I decided to lie down with the television on around 10:00. I woke up at 3:00 in the morning and on the screen it was announced that Trump won the election and was giving his victory speech.

Above, at the Lincoln Tomb the day after Election Day.

After watching that, I turned of the television and went back to sleep. 

The next day, I visited the Lincoln Tomb, Lincoln's home and Presidential Museum. 

It is amazing how fast the last four years have passed.