Springfield Getaway

Micah loves Abraham Lincoln! When we first told Micah we were moving to Illinois, he was so excited because he knew that was where President Lincoln was from. So last week we made it to the 1860's in our study of American History and we figured we needed to take advantage of our proximity to Springfield and take a field trip to visit the Lincoln Museum.

The Scroggins family back in time, visiting the Lincoln's at the White House

The Museum was fascinating and we feel like we have such a better understanding now of the incredible turmoil that our nation endured during the Civil War. It's amazing to see how God's hand was at work to preserve this nation! If you ever have the opportunity to visit it, we highly recommend it! We weren't able to take pictures inside the exhibits, but here's a few that we were able to take.

Micah with young Abe Lincoln

Making a pressed penny

I think the kid's favorite part of the museum was Mrs. Lincoln's attic ~ sort of an 1860's play area for the kids. They played in there for over an hour.

Mr. Lincoln

Mrs. Lincoln

Playing house

Time for dinner Daddy

Ashlyn joined the Union Army for a day

Seeing how she measures up against the Lincoln family

After we went through all of the museum exhibits, we walked over to the Lincoln's Springfield home.

It was a warm and beautiful day!

This home, in downtown Springfield is 173 years old! And was the only home that Abraham Lincoln ever owned. He and his wife moved into the home a few years after they were married, and moved out when they left Illinois for the White House. It was much smaller when they first bought the home, but after two expansions during their time there, it's a nice sized home. The house has been restored to look just as it did during the time the Lincoln's lived there - furniture and all!

They didn't have street number then, so him name on the door identified it as their home.

The front parlor - no kids were allowed in this room

The back parlor - where Lincoln received the news that he had won the Republican presidential nomination for the 1860 election.

The dining room

The family room - where the kids were allowed to play

The guest room - this is the only original bed in the house

President Lincoln's room - the desk in the corner is where he drafted many of his speeches prior to becoming President

Mary Lincoln's room

Notice the "chair" between the window and the stove? Any guesses what that is?

The kids' room

The kitche - where Mrs. Lincoln actually did most of her own cooking, even though they had a hired girl who lived in the home with them

Hanging out on the back porch. This would be a wonderful home to live in, if only it had a bathroom!

Oh wait! Here's the bathroom! You just have to walk outside to get to it.

So thankful for indoor plumbing today!

After we left the Lincoln home we took a little stroll around his neighborhood.

 Micah in front of a model of Abraham's boyhood home, and an election poster

Although the kids enjoyed the museum, I think their favorite part of any getaway is staying in a hotel, especially when it has a pool!

Micah says his favorite breakfasts are those found in a hotel breakfast room

We were excited to meet up with some California friends who are now living in Springfield. Nathan and Richard worked together for several years at TMC. He and his wife Kazumi hung out with us by the pool, and we also got to enjoy dinner with them at an old Route 66 restaurant- The Cozy Dog Drive In - home of the original cozy dog (corn dog). Micah loves anything about Route 66 (thanks to the movie Cars), so he enjoyed the opportunity to step back to the 1950's for dinner. He's eager for the day we can drive Route 66 from Chicago to LA - He might be waiting a while though. There's a reason the Interstate was created!