Presidents' Places: Abraham Lincoln

I took a morning stroll through Abraham Lincoln's neighborhood in Springfield before breakfast. It gave me a good feeling to think that Abraham Lincoln used to do this; go for a walk in the morning, or maybe just walk to work, along these very streets.

He served in the legislature in Springfield for three terms--that's probably six years. It's close enough for him to walk to work, easily. This is the old capitol building which he served in; his law offices are across the street from the old capitol.

Then in the evening he'd walk back home. Open the door. "Honey, I'm home!" The kids would come running. Mary would start complaining. Typical family.

Abraham Lincoln and Mary Todd Lincoln lived in this house from 1844 to 1861. Three of their four sons were born here, and one died here.

The house has been remodeled a few times, but has been restored as it was when the Lincolns lived there. It is filled with their artifacts and items of the period.

Then in 1861, he boarded the train for Washington, D.C., to fulfill his destiny, leaving Springfield for the last time.

After the Battle of Gettysburg, when the tide of war had switched and the Union was beginning to see victory ahead, President Lincoln dedicated the national cemetery at Gettysburg, Pennsylvania. This photo shows the spot where he stood, with hundreds of people in attendance, and delivered his immortal Gettysburg Address: "Fourscore and seven years ago. . ."

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All photos on this site ©Donald L. Mark 1973-2007

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