Lincoln's Home

My husband and I were both off this past week, and one of the things we did was visit Springfield, IL, to see the only home Abraham Lincoln ever owned. Astonishingly, I'd never been there despite growing up 90 minutes away, and the hubs is a history buff, so off we went.

The front of the house, taken from the standpoint of most contemporary photographs.




The lovely sign that alerted me to said standpoint.




The front of the parlor, scene of many fundraisers and political gatherings. This is also where we learned that all of the carpet and wallpaper patterns in the house are either what Mrs. Lincoln chose, or something that would have been available to her.




The back of the parlor, where Mr. Lincoln conducted business with visitors.




The parlor wallpaper (my favorite, by dint of being the least crazy).




A sideboard in the dining room. Apparently they're having ham for dinner.




The family room, where Honest Abe spent much time on the floor, playing with the kids (the chairs were too small for him).




The family room wallpaper. See what I mean about the crazy patterns? And check it out against the carpet in the photo above. Gads, as my grandma used to say.




Lincoln slept here, more or less.




The washstand in Mr. Lincoln's bedroom. Mary Todd Lincoln had her own room so she "could get some rest when Mr. Lincoln was working late in his bedroom."




The servant's room. That bed, by the way, is shockingly tiny, but I was told it was accurately sized for the time.




An upstairs transom; the ceilings were impressively high on both floors.




The children's room.




Mrs. Lincoln cooked here.




The back of the house.




The facilities; because we checked, I can tell you it's a three-seater.




We left a Lincoln at the Lincolns'.