Lincoln Home, State Capitol, and New Salem

Abraham and Mary Lincoln's home in Springfield

Saturday, June 6, 2009

This morning our group toured the Old Capitol in Springfield. On the Capitol grounds we walked amidst Civil War reenactors whose tents were up and the smell of burning wood wafted through the air. On the first floor of the Capitol building we were introduced to beautiful 1800’s dresses for the ladies. Yesterday, Kelli Jo was brave enough to ask one of the lady reenactors to show us her undergarments. I know that sounds weird, but many of us and especially our students don’t know how these ladies were able to wear these beautiful garments. So, it was very interesting to take pictures of each layer of clothing. First, she raised her hoops up so that we were able to see her pantaloons, then several layers of modesty clothing, the hoop, and then the dress. One woman showed us the removable sleeves with elastic at the top. Ladies wore these in order to be able to take them off and wash them separately from the rest of the clothing so that they would not have to wash every piece of their clothing. All of this was happening while a gentleman dressed in Civil War attire was hooting and hollering, More! More! Oh my gosh I’ve died and gone to heaven! He was so funny. It will be fun to show my students these pictures and discuss the dress of the time. I’m sitting with Dana Ferguson while I’m typing on the bus, and she says I can go to Williamsburg.com under kids games and students can dress the colonial women and men correctly. Cool!

All right back to the Capitol. One of the rooms we were in was one in which the men gathered and the docent was telling us that Lincoln would have most certainly been in this room telling wonderful stories, amongst the men. They were not always stories that women would be able to hear. At the end of our group, there was a black docent who was giving us wonderful information regarding Lincoln and various tidbits. He told us about a campaign poster that was sent to the capitol by a Mormon group and was put up on the wall about three weeks ago. He also showed us a picture of a young Ulysses S. Grant, and proceeded to tell us that he had been in trouble, with the army because of his drinking and a kind General had given him a chance to redeem himself by giving him a place to recruit soldiers behind the stairway. Eighteen years later he became President. What a great way to influence students who have been in trouble and to encourage them that they can work hard for a second chance to better themselves.

While upstairs we were able to see the area where Lincoln’s body was laid after returning to Springfield, after being killed by John Wilkes Booth. Pretty awesome.

Next, we went across the street to the Lincoln-Herndon Law offices and toured that building. We saw a desk that Lincoln used while working in this office and learned that he had a conversation with Herndon while President. They had some laughs together and remembered old times when they had worked together. As Lincoln was leaving he turned and told Herndon that when all of this was over he would return and they would practice together like they had before. Of course Lincoln’s life was cut short and that wasn’t to be. We were able to see some copies of letters that Lincoln wrote and heard a story about Herndon giving away various items that Lincoln signed because he was a kind man, thus so many of Lincoln’s items that are found every year. I’m an avid garage sailer and would loooove to find something like that.

We went to Abraham and Mary Lincoln’s house and there is something so cool about seeing the parlor that the Republican party representatives offered Lincoln the nomination in. The house had many of the original Lincoln furniture, including a shaving mirror that was very high to accommodate Lincoln’s height. The toys in the boys room was touching. I felt seeing that brought home to me that despite being a President, Lincoln was a husband and father first. Mary had a servant girl who worked alongside Mary. I think perhaps Mary has not been given enough credit for all that she has done to raise her family. No one can understand all the time and work that goes into running a household and keeping the home fires burning than women who have done that. I remember watching the likeness that the Presidential museum showed a likeness of Mary sitting in mourning and crying while it rained outside because of the death of her child. Such unbearable grief and then to be constantly criticized.

I thought a lesson that could be taught was as Lincoln furthered his education, his income increased, and he was able to provide more room by adding a second story, and other sections onto his house. The street he lived on was really quaint and beautiful. The barns were cool.

Lincoln’s tomb was moving. It seemed to be a bit much to have the body 10 ft below, covered with cement, all the way up to the marble floor, however I doubt they have to worry much about someone trying to steal his body in this day and age. I thought it a bit sad that Mary and the boys were buried away from Lincoln instead of closer by, but then again I’m probably being sentimental. The cemetery was beautiful with all the tall tress and greenery everywhere. I’m glad they stopped selling items at the tomb. That does seem to be disgraceful and insensitive,

To end the day, we went to New Salem where Lincoln lived as a young man, before moving to Springfield. The old log cabins were fun to see and the docents in period dress were interesting as well. One man was talking about the saying, “Throwing the baby out with the bath water.” He said that dad would take a bath first, mother, oldest child to the youngest. By the time the water got to the baby it was so dirty that you couldn’t see the baby and that is why they said don’t throw the baby out with the bath water. We also saw the sawmill, and discovered that the river had changed course and was no longer in operation due to moving away from the mill by 300 ft. Lincoln’s little town was very nice. However, no one had the casting of Lincoln’s hand to buy ANYWHERE! I think I’m going to have to buy it online.

Then we were off to a meal at Chevy’s fresh mex restaurant. The waitress made Dana, Chris, Amy and I fresh guacamole at the table. The scooped out the avocado, added pica de gallo, lime juice, garlic, oregano, and perhaps some other items I don’t remember, but it was delicious and a lovely end to a educational day.

Lincoln – Springfield, Illinois

Thursday, June 4, 2009

Our group arrived at Midway airport in Chicago about 2:30, and we were transported by Obama’s 2007-2008 campaign bus and driver, to Springfield, Illinois.  The drive was approximately 3 hours, and we watched Cinderella Man on the way, compliments of Paula.  On the way to Springfield, we saw miles and miles of lush green vegetation, and fields filled with black, rich, dirt.  What a contrast to Pueblo, Colorado. The landscaping reminded me of my native Missouri.  We arrived at the Hilton in Springfield and headed to our individual rooms for the evening.  I chose to spend my evening working out in the swimming pool.  It was kind of lonely, as I am not use to not having family or someone around.

Friday, June 05, 2009

This morning I awoke eager to begin the day in Abraham Lincoln’s hometown.  Our group began our morning at 8:00 a.m., at the Abraham Lincoln Presidential Library.  Erin Bishop, Director of Education Division, gave each of us a packet with lots of posters and websites that will be extremely useful for the classroom.  I was very excited about being able to use the Lincoln’s Legacy CD with Lesson plans and teacher resources.  I thought the Source Identification activity that we did in which, we had to identify what items were primary, secondary, and sometimes both sources was very useful.  I will use that this fall when I explain to my students what primary sources are.  The other activity that was really cool was the one where the teachers looked at a painting from the 1930’s, and then had to figure out what it was about, based on the picture, and take into account possible biases of the painter.  That would be another good activity that will be extremely cool.  Some of the Lincoln websites that we were introduced to were very informative and will make research easy.    The Who Said It, worksheet will be useful when showing that over time, people like Abraham Lincoln evolve and change their minds regarding various issues, as they learn, and evolve.

Another activity that we did was to have students volunteer to go to the whiteboards with a question written on each.  I totally agree or I totally disagree, with no middle ground.  Approximately, five students (usually the talkers) will go up and move to which ever side of the room that they agreed with.  This leaves the students who are not typically the talkers to answer the questions that the talkers typically answer.  Questions like, did Lincoln believe blacks and whites were equal?  Was Lincoln an abolitionist, a racist? Then those students who are sitting, had to explained why they agreed or disagreed.

Did Lincoln really free anybody with the Emancipation Proclamation?   seems that some felt that the Proclamation didn’t apply to any slaves except in the rebellion states.  The border states were not included and the north didn’t have slavery, so who did he free?

I loved the activity where we read the letters between Lincoln and his ½ brother John Johnston.  I think that is quite a lesson that students could learn from where Lincoln is basically telling his brother to get off of his duff and WORK!!!!!

The Poetry lesson would be a great group activity for my students next year, in which, they look at a picture and come up with five different words to describe it, then each student lays those words down beside the picture and look to find the different words describing the picture.

The reading of the Gettysburg Address as students join in the words that they found most important was soooo cool.  I will definitely have my classes do that this fall.

Lunch was at the Tealicious restaurant.

Later Bryan Andreasen, Research Historian, showed our class how he developed a historical panel about the Lincoln Douglas debates.  This gave me information that will cause me to be more intested in the work that goes into the panels.  It was interesting that Douglas spent $50,000 versus Lincoln’s $1,000.

Of course, that brings me to the Lincoln Museum which was sooo incredible.  Walking into the library to find the Lincoln family greeting us in their bronze forms was pretty cool.  Also, seeing young Abe at his log cabin, then reading by the fire with the dog snoring by his side and family members sleeping on the bed with the trundle bed underneath, was quaint.  I thought the Ghost movie was fabulous.  I couldn’t help but think of my own 19 year old son who is in the marines and has the same desire to serve his country that the soldier in this movie did, and how he did not come back home.  I couldn’t help but compare these two young men.  I’m sure his mother felt the sacrifice as I feel the same possible future for my own son, and pray with heartfelt attitude that I my son Jordan, will not be called to the same fate as this young soldier.  At the same time I am filled with incredible gratitude and thanks that these soldiers feel a need to serve their country.

The next movie and the technology used is top notch and so moving.