Lincoln Home National Historic Site: it is a great stop. The home is nicely restored and our tour guide (interestingly a ranger in uniform not a volunteer in period dress) did a great job transporting us into Lincoln’s time. Other homes in the neighborhood have also been restored to that era. Docents roam about providing commentary and answering questions.

Lincoln’s Tomb: It is an impressive monument in a lovely setting. As we have found in many monuments of that era, there is symbolism everywhere: bronze statues of the military units Lincoln commanded, not in perfect posture poses but in more harried battle weary poses. An eagle grasping the broken chain of slavery, the monument base encircled by a chain of shields representing the united United States, a scroll of the Emancipation Proclamation held tightly in his grasp.

The 114^th Regiment Illinois Volunteer Infantry Reinstated

Mustered into service in 1862 and discharged in 1865. The original enlistees fought bravely during the civil war. The reinstated members serve as a living history symbol to keep the memories of those original service men alive.

Today we watched them carry out a Civil War Flag Retreat at Lincoln’s Tomb. In vintage uniforms, with musket fire, directed through drum and bugle command and accompanied by mortar fire the 114^th retired the flag at the tomb. Not as polished as the guys at the Arlington twilight tattoo but these guys are surely devoted to keeping memories alive.

Ladies in full period dress moved among the soldiers and the crowd. They are members of the Soldiers Aide society who served to support their soldiers while at home. There must be a great seamstress around here some where! What fantastic dresses.

The old court house: “The desk where Representative Lincoln sat”, oh yeah, there were other guys here too. In this same chamber Lincoln laid in state as thousands passed by. If the majestic columns could talk!

Lincoln’s New Salem state Historical Site: Lincoln grew from a rough hewn farmer to a well spoken lawyer in this town. It is pretty cool that there is an attempt to capture how that maturation was accomplished. Who helped? Who hindered? What was he like as a neighbor? An employee? A proprietor? Archeological finds and handed down verbal accounts provided some guidance but the folks who have reconstructed New Salem have admittedly filled in a lot of gaps with best guesses and folk lore.   It is worth a walk through. They spin a great story.