A path of Discovery - Part 1 - Abraham Lincoln

There's a lot to say about what I got to do over the last few days, and I'll try to hit the highlights and best parts. There will be a lot of art and history heavy travel talking over the next few posts..., prepare to learn a thing or two!

Looking for Lincoln

Vandalia, Illinois was the first opportunity to stop and take in some local history on the more than a thousand mile trek towards the East Coast. This city (formerly known as Reeve's Bluff) was the second active state Capital, after the First General Assembly petitioned Congress for a land grant somewhere in the State's interior to serve as the site of a new Capital.

Had no idea there was a public activity called "Looking for Lincoln". It almost seemed like the title of a book adventure for Encyclopedia Brown.

The statue you see above is known as a "Madonna of the Trail" and there are evidently a few others that exist similar to it. This particular one from what I understand was erected in 1928 by the Daughters of the American Revolution in memory of the pioneer mothers who arrived in covered wagons following the famous Cumberland Road.

Pretty sure MODOT blows through 7 Million now on just fixing potholes in Missouri in one month.

The Cumberland Road (also known as the National Road) was the first highway built by the federal government. Construction began heading west in 1811 at Cumberland, Maryland, on the Potomac River. It crossed the Allegheny Mountains and southwestern Pennsylvania, reaching Wheeling, Virginia, on the Ohio River in 1818.

Later efforts pushed the Road across the states of Ohio and Indiana. Plans were made to continue through St. Louis, at the confluence of the Mississippi and Missouri Rivers, and to the territorial capital of Jefferson City of the Missouri Territory. But, after the financial issues of 1837 and the economic depression that shortly followed, Congressional funding ran dry and construction was stopped at Vandalia, Illinois.

The majestic front face of the former Capital. Try saying that five times really fast.

I believe these steps you see above are the ones that Bill Clinton came and spoke on during his first presidential campaign.

In 1933, this building (which had become the courthouse for the town after a new Capital had been chosen) became the Vandalia State House State Memorial, and an extensive program of interior refitting and reconstruction began. In 1985 the building became a State Historic Site within the new Illinois Historic Preservation Agency.

The front entry way had this awesome staircase up to the second floor. Right next to the front door, there is also a life cast that was made of Lincoln's face on display.

The interiors are in fantastic condition, and it is so damn cool to see a place like this still kept up. This particular day was slow, but being near Route 66, I imagine it does get it's fair share of visitors especially during the summer and fall.

The rooms on the ground floor were stately if modest. I wish modern buildings had windows made this way.

I think about when I speak to many people today about this particular era in American history, (whenever I bring up having done historical reenactments) and how so often they think that it was an era lacking in sophistication of daily comforts, education, and other amenities that they must believe only came into existence in the last thirty years. Most people fail to realize that the American Civil war was really the first modern war. Not just in connotations of warfare, but industry, human rights, medicine, inventions, communication, and so much more.

Some of that I blame on modern history books, some of that I blame on indifference on behalf of a good portion of today's population.

This was the Secretary of State's area.

Now the connection with Abraham Lincoln, is that after he was elected to the legislature, this is the statehouse that he spent time at. All the while also doing studies in law and holding down a side surveying job.

Gotta respect that. It was in an effort to make ends meet, and it paid off as in the autumn of 1836 he picked up a law license. A year later he moved to Springfield to fully establish his law practice.

You're probably wondering why I have a photograph of the floor...

I took a picture of that floor because that same wooden floor you see, was the same one that Abraham Lincoln had walked on. Engage full on History Geek Mode. I actually crouched down and sat on the floor for a bit with my hands running back and forth over the wood grain.  

Access to the upper floor was not allowed, but I hope when next I come through this area perhaps it will be. On the right above are some sectioned cut timbers that had originally supported the upper viewing/seating gallery to the room in the next photo below.

Interior shots of the legislature rooms on the second floor.

Be sure to stop in if you are out in this area. They are open 9-5 most days, and the staff member that was onsite was wonderful.

It was only closed recently for a year, around 2008 because of lack of funds. There is a donation box on site. Places like this are becoming rarer, if not just plain forgotten for the magnitude of history they provide. These aren't the Statue of Liberty, nor are they the Smithsonian, but they are both at once humble and proud moments of history that we should all know, understand, preserve, and cultivate for future generations to know.

Until the next part of this update, support your local artists, be kind to your fellow beings, and I'll see you next time! - Mario, the Artisan Rogue