5th wheel – Learning and Wandering around the U.S.

Exploring Prairie Du Chien: Wisconsin’s Historic Gem

June 27, 2025June 28, 2025 by msminnie72, posted in Wisconsin

If you’ve been following along, you’ll know that we left off with crossing the mighty Mississippi and we went to Wisconsin.

The Second Oldest Town in Wisconsin

The city Prairie Du Chien dates back to 1785. Our last stop on this trip in Wisconsin was the historic Villa Louis. We visited the estate of Hercules Louis Dousman who is often called Wisconsin’s first millionaire. This estate is nestled along the banks of the Mississippi River. You feel like you’re walking onto the set of Downton Abby with its elegant Victorian country home. Imagine this without the British accents. The house was opened to the public as a museum in 1935. I am a sucker for anything old, so walking through this old house was definitely on my bucket list.

We began our tour of the office building. It originally started with one floor and later a second floor was added. The first floor was a man cave. It was complete with a billiard table used by both men and women. The second floor was used for guest bedrooms.

The estate has been restored to the 1890 glory days complete with period furniture and heirloom gardens. The beautiful lawns outside that once housed a horse racetrack now looks like it can host a polo match.

The wraparound porch caught my eye immediately. I could imagine sitting here with a cup of tea, reading a good book and enjoying the views outside.

Can you imagine receiving guests in the parlor? You could host a lot of guests in this room although the chairs don’t look very comfortable.

They had indoor plumbing which yells, I have a lot of money. Check out the size of the tub! I would drown in it!

The grand dining room. Everything is original and changed out periodically.

It was not uncommon for girls to share a room together. I think most girls today would be okay with it given the size of the room.

Check out the detail of the carpet design.

Servants

I can imagine Thomas Barrow and crew from *Downton Abby* spilling the tea here during their dinner time.

Many women felt fortunate to work in such a grand house. As the sign reads “It offered the ability to improve English language skills, learn American housekeeping and general absorb and master American cultural norms.”

Some servants made their home here while others came to work for a day, week or a season. Monthly wages depended on your skill. House maids made $10-$12 a month, and gardeners made $30. Estate management made even more. I can’t imagine making so little, but their room and board were covered as well as their meals. The servant’s quarters were a stark difference from the main house. There were thinner walls and lower ceilings. Multiple doors and locks separated these spaces.

Gardens

This Arteisan Well was completed in 1876. It is the largest of two wells located on site. Both of the wells had been plumbed into the estate buildings at one time. https://www.facebook.com/watch/?v=284831059236817

This was the only battle of 1812 that was fought on Wisconsin soil. They do still have reenactments here as well.

If you have a couple of hours to spare, step back and tour the mansion. Touring the grounds is also recommended. Admission is only $15 and well worth the money. I wish we could have stayed longer, but we were on a time constraint. So, if you’re like me and like to pretend that you’re stepping back in time to live like royalty you have to visit. I really did feel like I walked onto the set of Downton Abby.

Madison

We love Wisconsin! More specifically, Madison. Why? The history, cheese, the dells, cheese. I’m kidding, but in all seriousness, Wisconsin was full of so many surprises that we left and came back! If it is not on your bucket list by the end of this blog, maybe it should be.

We stayed at Madison Campground in Deforrest, It looks like it is a former KOA. The campground was nice and the staff were great as well.

We didn’t spend a lot of time outside due to the humidity. Each site had a lot of space, so you were not on top of each other.

Two playgrounds designated for different ages. There was a pool here as well.

This is a nice group picnic area if you have a large group.

Any cow lovers out there? I’m definitely a Holstein cow lover. That’s why we had to stop to take this picture. We did this before going in and getting some cheese at the Ehlenbach’s Cheese Chalet https://ehlenbachscheese.com/ .

Talking about cheese, Madisonians take their cheese seriously. I have never seen so much cheese in one place. I was overwhelmed by what I wanted to buy.

After careful consideration, I ended up buying cheeses that I knew I could be creative with.

Smoked Bacon Cheddar Cheese (This was great to make Mac and Cheese)
Rosemary Olive Oil Asiago (This was great to use with pasta)
Chocolate Cheese Fudge (This was just for fun because I couldn’t believe that cheese tasted like fudge)

Fun Facts about traveling with cheese:

Cheese can travel outside of refrigeration. It must be kept at room temperature. It should be kept out of direct sunlight.
If traveling by airplane, it is usually best if you can pack your cheese in your checked luggage.

I would definitely come back to buy more cheese. I really envy Wisconsinites who have access to all of these creative cheeses.

It’s Totally Free!

What is the tallest building in the city? If you said the state capital, you would be correct. It is located in the center of Madison. That area is actually on an isthmus. An isthmus is a strip of land between two lakes.

We joined a free guided tour which showed us the Supreme Court chambers and legislative rooms. We also found the governor’s office to see where everything gets signed.

As you can see, the capital was under renovations. The dome is the only state capital with a granite dome. It’s a gorgeous white granite from Vermont. The dome is huge and elegant. It is technically taller than the one in D.C. , standing at a tall 284 feet which is 3 feet taller than the U.S. Capital.

This building is the third capital building for the state and it was completed in 1917 for $7.2 million.

Inside you will find murals, mosaics, stained glass, and enough marble to make Italy jealous.

When you are in the capital, look up into the Rotunda. You’ll see four massive murals. They represent key themes of democracy: Government, Justice, Education, and Liberty.

In the center of the inner dome is the painting of “Resources of Wisconsin.” The painting depicts a female figure representing Wisconsin. She is surrounded by other figures holding symbolic items. These items include lead, copper, tobacco, fruit, and a freshwater pearl. This painting doesn’t look very big, but it is 34 feet in diameter.

Where are the laws upheld? Of course, the Supreme Court.

This mural of one of four and sits behind the bench. This mural should look familiar, since it is the signing of the Declaration Of Independence.

The three paintings in the senate chamber depict a significant event. “The Marriage of the Atlantic and the Pacific” commemorates the opening of the Panama Canal.

The people of Wisconsin are proud of their badgers. This sculpture sits above the door of the second floor chambers.

While in Madison, you will find the quirky as well. This pink elephent was shown on the Google map as a tourist attraction. Sometimes you don’t have to go look for it, it finds you when you least expect it.

Stayed tuned as we head east in Wisconsin and go to the circus.

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Clowning around in Wisconsin

June 8, 2025July 27, 2025 by msminnie72, posted in Wisconsin

Welcome to our travel blog! We are Andrew and Loralee of the scherfswanderingwheels. We love traveling around our beautiful country to learn and experience new things. We are still traveling in Wisconsin and are heading east towards the Dells.

Our first stop was the Dell Pines Campground in Baraboo, Wisconsin.

There is so much to do at the campground. Whether it is shuffle board, pickle ball, volleyball, or miniature golf, there seems to be something for everyone.

We felt like we were camping in the forest due to the canopy of trees overhead. We did play pickle ball in the evening, but I got eaten by mosquitos as well. Overall, we really enjoyed this campground and would recommend it to any traveler.

Hurry, Hurry, Hurry! Step right up, as we soar into the crazy world of the Ringling Brothers Circus

The five brothers Al, Otto, Alt T., Charles, and John began their dream with just a small tent, three horses, a hyena, and a troupe of 21. As a sign in the museum states “The five brothers worked as a simple team, dividing the labor according to talent and inclination, but always acting as one. Their partnership was never on paper, and they shared equally in what became, during a lifetime of hard work, considerable wealth.”

What started as a dream among 5 brothers with a rented horse and a wagon, turned into a railroad traveling circus. It then merged with Barnum and Bailey Circus to become the Greatest Show on Earth.

From 1884 to 1918 Baraboo served as the circus’s winter home.

These circle things in the lower part of the wall were to chain the elephants to the wall. It’s sad to think that they didn’t have much room between them.

Remember the clowns? Many people (not just kids) don’t like the clowns. For me, they are great memories of watching all the shenanigans they got into with their colorful hair, big shoes, and little cars.

I remember seeing the little purple car in the background.

The museum opened its doors in Baraboo July 1, 1959

The circus quit traveling a few years back but this gave us a chance to learn the history of the circus and see where it all started. For $23 a person, this was well worth the stop, especially if you have small children. It was fun going down memory lane.

Under the Big Top

We didn’t know what to expect in this small area, but the lights set the stage for an hour show.

We got to see clowns, a dog show, acrobatics, jugglers, camels, and trapeze artists. It was quite a show.

Al Ringling Mansion and Brewery

Al Ringling was the eldest of the famous Ringling Brothers. He helped build Baraboo with the circus as well as building opera houses. This mansion was built in 1906 and is listed on the National Register of Historic Places. While a restoration was taking place, a wooden box was discovered beneath the floorboards containing a historic beer recipe- which today is called the “Ringling Original”.

If you ever wanted to sip a cold one in a place that is across from an opera house and a three-ring circus, we found the place. We originally drove to see the mansion and then discovered there was a brewery, so of course we had to stop. I am not a beer fan, but Andrew is a huge stout beer fan. I ordered him a stout and myself a sweet drink as well as an empanada.

Rumor has it that the Gavioli organ plays live and the beer bar top is a bowling lane.

So, if you’re in the area, it is a fun experience to sit and enjoy a beer and eat some food while possibly listening to some live music and dancing. It was a quiet afternoon, so we enjoyed the ambiance of the bar. Be sure to tour the beautiful mansion for just $20. So cheers to history, heritage, and hops.

Devils Lake State Park

This state park is located in Baraboo, Wisconsin and what a gem it is. For us non-Wisconsin residents, we had to pay an entrance fee of $16 but it was well worth it. The park is very big, encompassing approximately 10,000 acres. This is Wisconsin’s biggest state park. There seems to be something here for everyone. There are over 30 miles of hiking trails, boat rentals, and camping.

This is beautiful Devil Lake on the north shore! At this time in the evening the lake was so calm and serene. The lake is approximately 47 feet at its deepest point with roughly 3.5 miles of shoreline.

I was very intrigued by the Bat Condo. Have you ever seen one of the these?

The drive was just beautiful through the tree canopy!

We watched the sunset from the south shore and what a site it was!

We did check out the campground with 423 sites for next time and we think it will be a great place to relax and just be. So, if you’re coming for an hour or a few days there is plenty of things to see and do if you desire.

We next headed north to the Dells, and it is a total tourist attraction. We tried not to get roped into a lot, but it was very hard. Think Las Vegas but without all the lights and heat. The hotels are jazzy and look giant to draw you in.

This hotel was closed for renovation, but this seems to scream route 66 hotel, doesn’t it?

Quack, Quack, Duck

Have you heard anything about these ducks? I had, but wasn’t so sure about it. It is a land and water boat. Andrew was very excited to share this experience with me. It is an 8 1/2 mile route that takes roughly an hour.

This is a World War II era water vehicle that takes you around the dells on a one hour tour. The tour is 30 min. on land and 30 min. in water. This duck tour claims to be the only continuous tour since 1946. It was built to ferry troops and supplies directly from the ship to shore. The website states, “It was given the name duck because the the truck was assigned a code DUKW. D represents 1942, the year of its design. ‘U’ indicates a utility vehicle. ‘K” means all-wheel drive capabilitu. And “W” signifies duel rea driving axels.”

While on land, we saw some wild life. Can you see it?

And here we are on the water, touring the dells while the tour guide is giving us Dells history, local legends, and humorous quips.

Final Quack: We did enjoy the ride, one of us more than the other. For me, it definitely was a tourist thing to do for $40, but now I can cross this off the bucket list as something I didn’t know I wanted to do. It was the weirdest ride on land and water wondering if we will sink in the Dells or crash in the forest; it is a must do at least once.

Lake House Grill and Bar

After our duck tour, we were inspired to have a nice lunch over looking Lake Delton.

We had a beuatiful lake view while eating our lunch. It wasn’t too warm, the weather was perfect.

The food was really good. I had a Buffalo Chicken and bacon wrap. Andrew had a summer house burger.

If you’re looking for a relaxing, out of the city place to enjoy some really good food, this is the place to go.

Root Beer Museum

If you’re a fan of root beer, this is the place to visit. This is a museum that immerses you in a foam- fueled journey through flavor, history, and root beer nostalgia. It is in the heart of the Dells right on the main tourist strip.

There are over 3,000 root beer brands lining these shelves. Its awesome to walk around here and see all the different brands of root beer.

Fun Facts

Root Beer dates back to colonial America
The original flavor came from the sassafras root, but the FDA banned sassafras oil.
It came before Coca-Cola, dating back to 1876.
The classic root beer float was supposedly invented in the 1890’s.

So if you’re in the area, and you’re looking for something cheap and fun to do where you can learn something along the way, try the Root Beer Museum. And while you’re there, pick up some unique root beer to try at home. I walked out with a case of 6 different root beers.

We love this part of Wisconsin. There is so much to see and do, but watch out for all the tourist things that can easily take all your vacation money. For me, my favorite part was the Ringling Brothers circus in Baraboo. It definetly made me think about the times I went to the circus as a kid and taking my kids to the circus as well.

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A Historical Adventure in Crawford and Wabash College

May 24, 2025June 2, 2025 by msminnie72, posted in Indiana

Welcome back and welcome to Indiana! Thanks for joining us, as we explore the area for a couple of weeks. We are a husband-and-wife team that travels the country in our Keystone Cougar 2100 RKS, and we love to explore new places. This blog highlights the Crawford, Indiana area and we were introduced to a native noisy creature.

As we were traveling along our way to Crawford, we found the Nestle Bunny at the Nestle Plant.

We found our way to Crawford KOA for two nights. We did learn about a new creature called a Cicada.

These little creatures make sooooo much noise. Oh my goodness!

Lane Place

While we were in town, we visited Lane Place in Crawford, Indiana. The beautiful house belongs to the Montgomery County Historical Society. The house started with a 3 room cabin in 1830 and in 1845 the front part of the house was built in 1845 when Henry Smith and Joanna Elston Lane were married. The house went through many renovations over the years

The reconstructed Speed Cabin is also on the Lane grounds.

The house next door is being renovated by the local chapter of Daughters of the American Revolution.

Wabash College

While driving around this beautiful town, we stumbled upon another college.

This college was founded in 1832 and is a private men’s college. The campus is 65 beautifully wooded acres.

Stay tuned as we head to Illinoise and fly back to California. Please like and hit the subscribe button.

We had a surprise!

January 3, 2025January 3, 2025 by msminnie72, posted in California, Nevada, Texas

We last left off leaving Iowa and crossed into Missouri. It was so beautiful to watch the farmland pass us by. We stopped at a Boondockers Welcome in Stewartsville, Missouri and met Ken and Robin. These are 2 of the nicest people we have ever met. We spent a couple of hours sitting on their back patio enjoying warm cider and conversation.

We spent the day driving through Kansas and stopping in Oklahoma.

We then landed in Foss, Oklahoma at the Elk City/ Clinton KOA Journey. Since we were driving all day, we didn’t get any pictures but here is the link. https://koa.com/campgrounds/elk-city/?msockid=35ab8978bb7c64d21df99c7eba876532

The next day we crossed into Texas and stayed at a Harvest Host in Canyon Texas called Bar Z Winery. Although it was very windy, this was quite a gem. While Andrew worked, I went inside and enjoyed some wine tasting. I spent a couple of hours visiting with the owner and staff and walked out with a bottle of wine.

We next traveled about an hour to Vega Texas. If you haven’t been to Vega Texas, it is a quaint little town. We intended to stay at a Harvest Host for a couple days which was a museum. They had a lot to see, and the host was happy to answer any questions.

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We walked around town and learned of the history of the area.

We also read reviews about the best bakery in town. And they were not kidding about the homemade goodies. The bakery is called Mama Jo’s and is owned by Joann Glenn Harwell. Let me tell you, we bought a small peach cobbler pie, and it was so good. So, if you’re in the area, stop in for a sweet and drink, you won’t regret it.

It was shortly after our town walk; we got a phone call from home. Our grandbaby was on the way, and we needed to hurry home. So, after trying to look at airlines flight (which were crazy expensive), we looked at train schedules (which would take too long). We decided to hit the road leaving at 3:30 in the afternoon and drive as far as we could in one day. Six hours and 300 miles later we stopped in New Mexico at Grants KOA Journey. https://www.bing.com/alink/link?url=https%3a%2f%2fkoa.com%2fcampgrounds%2fgrants%2f&source=serp-local&h=LnxyQy7RyjPySFkOqrKWUViF3rDFPJEjKzis990afr8%3d&p=lw_gbt&ig=8C4F9298CD2D4DE8B921F8A067287B89&ypid=YN873x7161397907331662059

Cadillac Ranch

If you’re travelling along Interstate 40, a must do and fun thing to do is Cadillac Ranch outside Amarillo Texas If we had more time, we definitely would have stopped. We were here for the first time in 2015, and we had our kids with us. We didn’t have a can of spray paint but found some on sight.

We got up super early in the morning and we were in constant contact with our son. The baby hadn’t arrived yet and we still had time to get there. We saw the sunrise over the plains of New Mexico and what a beautiful sight it was.

We traveled 831 miles in just over 15 hours. We pulled our 5th wheel into the hospital parking lot and got to see our son at 11:00. Due to visiting hours we couldn’t go up and see our sweet granddaughter till the next morning.

We then traveled to their house and stayed nearby with our 5th wheel in the event that they needed help, which they didn’t but it gave us an excuse to visit a few more times.

While staying in the area, we stayed at Oasis West RV Park in Santa Nella, it used to be a KOA but it is no longer. I wouldn’t recommend staying here unless you have to or just passing through.

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All Things Lincoln

August 30, 2024February 18, 2025 by msminnie72, posted in Illinois, Indiana, Springfield

Our last day in Ohio was at a Boondockers Welcome. We came in during a rain storm but we had an absolutely wonderful stay.

I try to capture each state sign but it is not always there, I only get this from the GPS. We stopped at a rest stop in Green Forks, Indiana and spotted this really cool seal on the floor. It was a very clean stop.

We only stayed in Indiana one night. We stayed at the Crawfordsville KOA Journey https://koa.com/campgrounds/crawfordsville/. It was raining when we came in but we got out between storms to take some pictures.

It was a nice big park even with all the puddles.

Our site was nice but we didn’t even unhook in the rain.

A nice play area for the kids when the weather is nice.

A big dog run for your fur babies of all sizes.

They even had these small camping cabins if you are traveling and don’t have a tent or an RV. Neat way to “get out there” and significantly cheaper than a hotel.

I thought this was left out from Halloween, but I think they keep this up all year long. It was kind of funny and made me laugh.

Illinois

We headed to Springfield, Illinois and stayed at Double J Campground. This was a perfect location to see everything in the area.

This wagon is along historic Route 66 and it is recognized by the Guinness Book of World Records as the largest covered wagon in the world. A statue of Abe Lincoln reading a law book sits in the huge wooden wagon, which stands 24 feet tall. Its a 5-10 min. stop and a great place to let the kids out to stretch their legs.

Double J Campground

This was a very big campground that had something for everyone. They have RV sites and tent sites.

So it was good to know where to go in the event of a Tornado.

The restroom was very clean and updated/

A great big playground for the kids to play.

We had ladder ball and a big chest set in the grass.

Inside the covered area high stakes ping-pong ensued. I won’t say who won, but the winner is NOT in this picture!

The campsite itself was nice and big with a picnic table and fire pit for those that like to smell like smoke. Don’t get me wrong, I love campfires but I don’t like smelling like one.

If your planning to visit Springfield, Ill. or just want to enjoy a vacation in the campground, this is definitely the place to stay. For just $62 a day we thought this was a great gem. If your interested in Lincoln stay with us as we explore all things Lincoln.

Lincoln Home National Historical Site

Our first day into Springfield, we went to the Lincoln Home National Historical Site. We started off with a self guided tour through the park walking in Lincoln’s steps. We got a sense of who his neighbors were and what life was like in 1860’s. We went back the next day to get a tour of the Lincoln home. Be advised that school groups fill up the tours during the school year.

The house sits on the corner of 8th and Jackson Street. The original house that you see from the front was built as a one and a half story house with 5 rooms in 1839. In 1844 the young Lincoln family moved in. In 1846 the first remodeling of the home occurred. The Lincolns added a bedroom and a pantry to the back of the home, and the kitchen was removed from the back of the house and shifted over several feet to its present location. Between 1849 and 1850 another remodel happened, stoves were installed in the parlor rooms, the brick retaining wall in front of the home was constructed, and the front walk was bricked over, replacing the wooden sidewalk. As the family grew another renovation was done between 1855 and 1856 the front of the home was raised from one-and-a-half stories to two full stories. The bedroom was moved to the upstairs portion of the home, allowing for the creation of the rear parlor. Wood folding doors were added to the parlor at this time and the front parlor windows were permanently closed. The rest of the home was raised to two full stories allowing for the present 12 room nearly 3,000 sq. ft. home. The Lincolns lived in this house until they left for the White House in 1861 and never returned due to the memories that they had created here.

The Lincoln’s entertained their guest in the parlor, it is considered the most formal room of the house. This is the same room that Lincoln was formally notified of his presidential nomination.

The living room where the family spent time together and the children played.

The dining room was much smaller than I expected. I don’t know how they did it.

Mary spent many hours managing the household and raising children. Mary oversaw the activities that made this a well-run and inviting home. First impression is that the kitchen was small and I don’t know how she cooked for 5 in such a small space.

Lincoln’s bed was very simple like the man himself.

His tiny little desk that he wrote many a documents from. I don’t know how he sat at this.

Mary Todd Lincoln’s room. Her dresser she brought with her from her childhood home.

The Lincoln boys bedroom where Tad and Willie shared a room.

Mrs. Lincoln had 1 hired girl to help out around the house. Notice the walls do not have wall paper on them. And the floorboard were original to the house.

To plan your visit to the Lincoln Home or watch videos, visit https://www.nps.gov/liho/explore-the-park.htm

Lincoln’s New Salem State Historic Site

We traveled the 22 miles out of town to explore the reconstructed New Salem village where Lincoln lived and worked as a young man from 1831-1837. Lincoln came to New Salem by flatboat.

The village features twenty -three historically furnished buildings.

I was amazed that the fire places were made from wood and not rock. I would have thought this would have been a fire hazard.

This is the home of Isaac and Elizabeth Gulihur. They lived in this cabin after getting married in 1831.

This is the Johnston residence. Robert made and repaired spinning wheels, wagon wheels, and did a lot of cabinetry.

This is the First Berry-Lincoln store. James and Rowan Herndon arrived in the spring of 1831, built a store and opened it that fall. In the summer of 1832, James sold his interest in the store to William Berry. Rowan was not happy working with Berry and later sold his interest in the store to Lincoln. When a larger and better stocked store became available across the street, they moved their business there in Jan. 1833 on a promissory note which meant no money was exchanged because Lincoln and Berry and no money.

New Salem was a wonderful way to walk in Lincoln shoes. We took lunch with us and had a nice picnic before wondering around the grounds. If you like history, this will not disappoint at all .

The Lincoln Museum

Oh my goodness, let me just say that this is the best museum that I have ever been into. The cost of admission was a mere $15 and worth every penny. When you first enter, you see the Lincoln cabin on the left and the white house on the right with the Lincoln family in the middle.

Our first stop, curtesy of the museum docent was the holographic show “Ghosts of the Museum” and the special effects theatres will entertain, educate and mesmerize you with ghostly images, live actors and high action. It was amazing. You couldn’t tell what was holographic vs what was real. I couldn’t tell if it was a real person or a holograph. We then proceeded through Lincoln’s cabin.

The attention to detail, was amazing. There were forest noises as well as the dog snoring here sleeping at Lincoln’s feet.

We then proceeded to the slave market exhibit.

This exhibit depicts Lincoln during his time in New Salem while working in the store that you read about above. All of the figures looked so real!

The Lincoln’s were very lax with raising their children. They loved their children so much that they pretty much got away with anything. This next scene is a day that Mr. Lincoln took his boys to work with him and they are very rambunctious. When you enter this room, you can hear the boys yelling, screaming and laughing.

Lincoln’s law partner William Herndon said that Lincoln “worshipped his children and what they worshipped; he loved what they loved and hated what they hated.”
Notice the ink on the wall!

The third oldest child was William Wallace Lincoln. The young Lincoln child died while living in the Whitehouse from typhoid fever. This next picture shows the Lincolns leaving a party downstairs as young William lays in his bed.

You can feel the turmoil that the parents were feeling. A happy occasion downstairs, and a somber room upstairs.

The cabinet room that the Emancipation Proclamation was first shown to his cabinet.

The war room was an amazing depiction of the war room during the civil war. An interactive map shows where the war lines were, how they moved, and dates and amounts of casualties during any one battle. I wish I would have gotten a picture but was so enthralled with the whole 10 min. display. It truly is a teachers dream and wished this was made available to teachers. It brings the whole thing to life.

John Wilkes Booth sneaking into the Lincoln viewing box.

The depiction of Ford’s theatre with the Lincoln’s box seats

This picture was taken April 24, 1864, in New York City. Only 1 picture exists of this great president after he was assassinated. Mrs. Lincoln thought is was highly disrespectful to Lincoln’s memory. Secretary of State Edwin Stanton ordered all the plates and negatives to be confiscated and destroyed. Many years later after Mr. Stanton had passed, his son found the single picture and mailed it to Lincoln’s old secretary of state John Nicolay in 1887. It remained hidden until 1952 when it was found in the Illinois State Historical Library manuscript collection.

This somber room makes you feel as if you are viewing Mr. Lincoln during his funeral. The room is dark and quiet with somber music quietly playing. Nobody is speaking in this room. It is very eerie.

If you only have time for 1 main Lincoln things, the Museum is a MUST! You can spend several hours there with so much to read. Another must see is the Lincoln Tomb

As you have read in past blogs, I love cemeteries. I love seeing how old they are and to pay respects to those that have passed young and from what diseased plagued the area of the time.

With that said, I was not prepared for this presidential tomb. This tomb sits up on a hill in the Oak Ridge Cemetery. The Lincoln Tomb was formally dedicated on October 15, 1874. The obelisk is 117 feet high, with a full length statue of Lincoln at the center. On the corners are Infantry and Cavalry statues . It is really a sight to see.

After his funeral and burial services, his coffin was placed in a receiving vault for seven months.

The burial site sits in the middle of the building. As you walk along the corridor that is marked with statues and quotes , you will find yourself in the middle burial room. President Lincoln is approximal 30 inches behind and 7 inches below the seven ton block of marble.

Across the walkway is the resting place for the rest of the family with the exception of Robert Todd Lincoln who is buried in Arlington National Cemetery.

Side note, we did find the first recorded burial plot in the cemetery. Believe it or not, the deceased passed from teething, of all things.

In today’s world it would be unheard of to have a colored section. There are slaves, Lincoln’s boot maker and friend, a conductor in the underground railroad are all buried in this section.

Sites around town

This building was built in 1840-41. Lincoln moved into it in 1843 with his law partner, Stephen T. Logan. The partnership dissolved in 1843 and he took William H. Herndon as his junior partner. They moved to another location in 1855 and their partnership disintegrated with Lincoln’s death. The Lincoln law firm occupied several different locations in the area, but this is the only site that still stands.

This building built in 1852 is currently a law office and holds so much history. This is where Lincoln left for the White House. In 1868 it was closed to train passenger when a new station opened up. In 1968 a fire destroyed a freight wing and was remodeled in 2012-13.

Stayed tuned for more in Springfield and so much more. Please hit the subscribe button if you like what you’re reading!!!