In the House of Lincoln

This weekend I took the kids to Springfield, Illinois, to visit the new (opened just two years ago this month) Lincoln Museum. I have wanted to go since it opened, and we were not disappointed! It is a fabulous museum, fabulous because it makes a visual impact on all ages. There are some displays to be read, but for the most part Lincoln's life story is told through realistic scenes from various times in his life, from his childhood through the end at Ford's Theater. I could not stop the tears from streaming down my face at several different points. Definitely worth the trip!

Here we are outside the White House (inside the museum!) with the Lincoln family... can you tell who's who?In "Mary Todd's Attic", a portion of the museum that contained lots of hands-on stuff for kids... including costumes! The man working that room even convinced me to try one on.
Madelyn loved this part... especially the dressing up!
We found a dress that only needed the sleeves turned up a couple of times so Gwen could join us in costume in the frontier kitchen.
Abraham Seth Lincoln
Caleb and Seth join Abe outside his cabin.
The one room cabin that was Abe's childhood home. This is inside the museum, and when we went out the back door, it actually led to other rooms with scenes of his life before the presidency.
After leaving the museum, we went to the Lincoln family tomb in a cemetary nearby. Here Gwen touches Lincoln's nose on a sculpture in front of the tomb... look how shiny it is... suppose anyone else has touched it?
Outside the tomb
It was interesting to learn that Lincoln was for the most part very unpopular during his presidency. Only after his death did the nation realize what a gifted leader he had been. It seemed evident though his writings that he had an unwavering faith in God that lead him and our country through its very darkest hour.