Springfield & New Salem
June 6, 2009
I was surprised to see how quiet Springfield was; there were very few people on the streets. Everyone here has been so friendly. I learned that the Old Capitol building was dismantled and rebuild – the outside bricks were numbered as it was taken apart and the rebuilt it like a giant puzzle to its “more” original state.
I learned something new about our postal service; the receiver not the sender paid the postage. One was charged by the page and the distance; 6 cents per page for shortest distance and 25 cents per page for 400 miles or further. Another new discovery showed that Lincoln’s law office was actually around the corner and up the stairs from where they are currently displaying it now.
Lincoln’s neighborhood had a mix of people; different heritages and varying political affiliations. Lincoln’s family home was originally on one level, they expanded out the back and then later added the second floor; as Lincoln’s income grew so did the size of his home.
We ended our time in Springfield at Lincoln’s tomb. It was very sobering and peaceful. His body was first placed in two different vaults before he was laid to rest in the beautiful memorial tomb.
We traveled a short distance by bus to New Salem where Lincoln lived in his twenties. He taxied people on the river and where he ran a general store with his partners who left Lincoln in financial concerns. There were many structures in new Salem; the most fascinating was the saw mill – a painting at the museum showed Lincoln helping get a flat boat off of a shoal. He later invented an inflatable float that helped boats out of shallow water – it was never tested.
What amazing accomplishments Lincoln made in his lifetime!
