Travel Springfield, Ill. — Abraham Lincoln’s hometown

He may have been born in Kentucky and grew up in Indiana, but there’s no doubt Abe Lincoln is Springfield’s best-known resident and revered icon.

More than a million people come every year to soak up Lincoln’s history before he went to Washington in 1861 and events occurring during his presidency.

Everywhere people go in Springfield, Ill., they find the name of the 16th president of the United States. There are streets, hotels and apartment complexes named after him.

Downtown, one will find numerous Lincoln historic information panels, large replicas of Lincoln pennies on bicycle racks, murals on buildings featuring his face, and his image in bronze in parks. In addition, there’s the Lincoln Presidential Library and Abraham Lincoln Presidential Museum.

When visiting the Illinois capital, stop first at the Visit Springfield office across the street from the Old State Capitol where Lincoln served in the state legislature. It’s a great place to start because it’s the building in which he and his partner had their law offices. One can see a replica of his office there.

The helpful people at the Visitor’s Center can direct you to the presidential museum, which should be your next stop.

Before tracing Lincoln from his rustic boyhood home to the presidency, take time to snap photos of yourself with the president and his

S & S TRAVEL

family in front of the White House.

Then go into the two outstanding theaters utilizing amazing state-of-the-art technology featuring holographic techniques combined with ghostly images and live action. This might even turn out to be the highlight of your trip.

Witness the 1860 presidential election as if it were happening today, complete with TV coverage and campaign commercials of the candidates. There’s a room full of editorial cartoons that were as crude and sometimes vicious as those seen during the 2020 election.

The view of Lincoln’s law office shows him concentrating in a law book, while two sons play baseball with a broom and wadded paper. Another room offers a peek into a cabinet meeting, complete with some of the members dozing while Lincoln attempts to make a point.

It covers just about every aspect of Lincoln’s time in Washington and ends at Ford’s Theater April 14, 1865, where he and his wife, Mary, were relaxing and celebrating the end of the Civil War before his assassination. His body was returned to Springfield by train along the same route he took to Washington four years earlier.

The train station where he departed for the nation’s capital is just a few blocks south. Before boarding the train, he’s quoted as saying, “I now leave, not knowing when or whether ever I may return, with a task before me greater than that which rested on Washington.”

A few more blocks south is the Lincoln Home National Historic Site featuring the only home he ever owned. The four-block area is full of period homes. During summer months, reenactors add life to the neighborhood.

Lincoln’s tomb in Oak Ridge

Cemetery houses the body of the president, his wife and three of their four sons and a number of statues in various poses. Lincoln’s nose on a big bronze bust in front of the monument is shiny from rubbing by visitors from around the world.

New Haven Parks & Recreation 2023 Tours

Thursday, March 23, 2023 Travel Show

10:00 a.m. at New Haven Parks & Recreation located at 7500 IN - 930 East, Ft. Wayne (behind McDonalds) in New Haven Previewing with Mayflower Tours 2023 New England & Canada Cruising on the Norwegian Escape including New York City also Previewing Hawaii Cruise all four Islands February 23 - March 3, 2024 . . . Includes air from Ft. Wayne on both Tours.

2023 Day Trips being introduced by Sue Grossnickle, Events Coordinator, New Haven Parks. This year’s trips will include theatre events (Lion King, Ring of Fire, The Little Mermaid) destination trips (Rock & Roll Hall of Fame, Put-In-Bay, Greenfield Village, Lake Erie Cruise) & more!

March 5-14

April 24-29

June 10-18

June 19-24

Introducing these Extended 2023 Tours

American Queen Steamboat Memphis to New Orleans (air from Ft. Wayne)

Virginia Beach, Williamsburg & Norfolk … $799 (double)

California Coast & Yosemite Air from Ft. Wayne … $3,775 (double)

Lancaster, PA, including “Moses” at the Sights & Sounds … $799 (double)

Sept. 2-10 Yellowstone, Devils Tower & Mt. Rushmore by motor coach … $1,842 (double)

Sept. 23-Oct. 1 New England & Canada Autumn Cruise (air from Ft. Wayne) includes New York City Tour Inside Cabin … $3,047, BD Balcony … $3,547 & BA Balcony … $3,747

October 24-26 Ark Encounter, Creation Museum & BB Riverboat Cruise … $450 (double)

Nov. 3-14 Western Caribbean Cruise from New Orleans (air from Ft. Wayne) includes Montego Bay, Jamaica, George Town, Grand Cayman Islands & Cozumel, Mexico plus 3 nights in New Orleans with included Tours - Inside Cabin … $2,549, Outside Cabin … $2,699 & Balcony $2,999 based on (double) Port Charges & taxes additional … $279

Nov. 27-Dec. 1 Pigeon Forge Christmas by motor coach … $738 (double)Includes 8 shows

2024 Brochures for Extended Fly Tours will be available: Alaska, Colorado Trains, California Zephyr & Canadian Rockies by Train sgrossnickle@newhaven.in.gov pamkaycrone@aol.com

260-749-2212 260-224-2339

March 22, 2023 ..................... “Footloose” Beef and Boards

June 3-10, 2023 .................................. Cape Cod and Boston

June 20-21, 2023 .........Get Your Motor Running in Detroit

June 26-29, 2023 .................................Mississippi Riverboat

July 27-28, 2023 .........................Ark and Creation Museum

August 7-11, 2023 ...............Mackinac Island, Thunder Bay and Lighthouses Galore!

August 21-25, 2023 ..........Sights & Sounds of Pennsylvania

“Moses”, Strasburg Railroad, Gettysburg & More

Sponsored by Garrett First Church of Christ

Pick Up Locations for this one ... Garrett & Ft. Wayne

Sept. 11-15, 2023 ..................... Get Your Kicks on Route 66

October 11, 2023..... “Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat”, Beef and Boards

Oct. 24-27, 2023 ................... Gilded Age of the Smoky Mts. Featuring the Biltmore Estate and the Unsinkable Molly Brown First Week Is Sold Out ... We Are Adding This 2nd Week

Nov. 9-11, 2023 ......................... Timeless Holiday Treasures

3 Big Shows and More ... Check This Out!

Dec. 5-9, 2023 .......................................... Christmas in NYC

Broadway Show, Rockettes, 9/11 Museum, NBC Studios and More

Steve and Sheila Magsamen, Tour Managers

Decatur & Fort Wayne Departures

260-432-8488 www.memoriesinmotion.net