Illinois Travel Guide 2009 - (Page 7) Although Abraham Lincoln was born in Kentucky, he made Illinois his home. Abe spent 30 years honing his political skills here before heading off to the White House as the nation’s 16th president on February 11, 1861. Lincoln touched many Illinois communities in his roles as lawyer and politician. But Springfield was closest to his heart and was the place where he raised his family. Upon leaving for Washington, Lincoln said of Springfield, “To this place, and the kindness of these people, I owe everything.” Make some history of your own by setting out on a weekend journey filled with Lincoln lore. To plan a 3-Day Getaway to Springfield, book your trip at enjoyillinois.com. Lincoln’s career took him to many towns throughout the state, but particularly within the Central region where he often traveled the Eighth Judicial Circuit as a lawyer. Today, the 42 counties of Central Illinois have been designated as the Abraham Lincoln National Heritage Area, which is managed by the Looking for Lincoln Heritage Coalition. Here are some places you shouldn’t miss. Be sure to call ahead for hours of operation before your visit. Find contact information for specific sites in the attractions listings later in this guide. Start your tour of all things Abe in Springfield, the heart of Lincoln country and home to the largest concentration of Lincoln sites in the state, where the future president lived from 1837 until 1861. Begin at the visitors center at Union Station, which has a wealth of information on Lincoln sites throughout the area. No Lincoln tour is complete without a visit to the dazzling Abraham Lincoln Presidential Library and Museum, the largest and most popular presidential museum in the nation. Here you’ll trace Lincoln’s path through amazingly lifelike vignettes and two special-effects theaters that feature holographic ghosts and the rumblings of a Civil War battleground. Rare artifacts on display include an original handwritten copy of the Gettysburg Address and the signed Emancipation Proclamation. 800/2CONNECT Get an intimate look at Lincoln with a trip to the Lincoln Home, the only house he ever owned. The Lincoln family and their pets, including a dog named Fido and several cats, lived here from 1844 COURTESY OF ABRAHAM LINCOLN PRESIDENTIAL LIBRARY AND MUSEUM l OOKING FOR LINCOLN Left to Right: Portrait of a president, the historic Gettysburg Address, Springfield’s acclaimed Abraham Lincoln Presidential Museum ILLINOIS. MILE AFTER MAGNIFICENT MILE. 7 http://www.enjoyillinois.com
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