zcookiemonstar wrote:
Springfield is a good idea driven through many times been to the Sec of State office but that is it.
You forgot to wink at the end of the last part;)
If you come to Springfield there's all the Lincoln sites.
For camping if you don't need full hook ups and can get by with just electricity (sewer dump and water on site) then a good place to camp is Lincoln's New Salem State Historic Site south of Petersburg (NW of Springfield). It's about a 15-20 minute drive into Springfield. New Salem is the restored village where Lincoln grew up. Visiting New Salem is free. Camping is the same price as in the state parks. During the summer on weekends they usually have period dressed people around the village explaining what went on around the village. A walk thru the village very early in the morning or at dusk and you'll likely see wild deer and turkey. There's the Theatre in the Park at New Salem where local thespians put on out door plays almost every weekend during the summer. They do a very good job.
There are several Lincoln items to see in Springfield. Of course there's the Lincoln Presidential Library and Museum. Plan on taking a full day to visit the Museum. It's not like any other presidential museum. Designers from Disney assisted in some of the displays. It takes you from his birth in KY to his life in Springfield, the election, the Civil War, and finally his death and burial. Be sure to visit all the exhibits don't miss the docu-dramas. There's one that you'll see that you won't figure out if the actors are real or a hologram. Actually they're both but I won't give away which you're seeing and when. It's the magic of Disney.
A block south of the ALPLM is the old state capitol where Lincoln gave his house divided speech. It's restored to Lincoln's period. A few blocks south of that is Lincoln's Home National Site. It's in a period community. The only home Lincoln owned. Nice tour.
While in the downtown area walk over to the State Capital building and take the tour. If you have ever seen the movie "Pretty in Pink" then this building will look familiar. It was used in the movie as the US Capitol since it looks so much like the US Capitol. (Bit of trivia. The IL Capitol building is taller than the US Capitol.)
Just a couple of blocks east of the Old State Capitol is the location of the 1908 race riots. It's because of these riots and deaths that the NAACP was formed.
Once you're done with downtown then drive out to Oak Ridge Cemetery. It's the 2nd most visited cemetery in the US, only behind Arlington. That's where Lincoln is buried. Be sure to tour inside his tomb. Rubbing Lincoln's nose is suppose to bring good luck. That's why you'll see the brown bronze bust of Lincoln with the bright shiny nose. Behind Lincoln's Tomb is the original tomb where Lincoln was buried and when plotters planned to steal Lincoln's body. Alcohol and low IQs are what prevented the plot from happening. Also buried at Oak Ridge are many historical figures of IL and US history. The visitor's center can locate their graves for you.
Other sites around Springfield include the IL National Guard Museum at Camp Lincoln which is a few blocks west of Oak Ridge Cemetery. A couple of items of interest at the Military Museum...
If it's on display when you're here, see Santa Anna's wooden leg. The same Santa Anna of "Remember the Alamo" fame. When the US went into Mexico to punish the Mexican army the IL Militia raided Santa Anna's camp early one morning. Santa Anna was asleep in his tent when the Militia attacked. He managed to escape capture but left in such a hurry that he didn't have time to get his wooden leg. The IL Militia captured his leg and brought it back to IL. As you can imagine some folks in Texas have really wanted his leg but after several court battles the judges have always ruled IL got it, IL keeps it.
Another interesting piece in the Military Museum is a target shot by Lincoln. There was a gun inventor by the name of Spencer who invented a repeating rifle that he thought would help the north win the Civil War. He wraps the rifle in a blanket, goes to the White House, and knocks on the door. The doorman opens the door and Spencer says he wants to see the President. (This is not a practice I'd recommend anyone trying today.) The doorman leaves and comes back with Lincoln. Spencer unwraps the rifle and shows Lincoln. Lincoln was so impressed he summoned several cabinet members and friends and they all went to the area near where the Washington Monument now stands. They hung shingles on trees and all took turns shooting at their shingles. The shingle Lincoln shot at is at the Military Museum.
Another interesting museum is the Grand Army of the Republic Museum. It's small and won't take a lot of time but it has a lot of Civil War history. The GAR was started in Springfield.
Old US Route 66 goes thru the center of Springfield. Lots of Rt 66 sites. Just south of Springfield on the north side of Auburn IL is a 2 mile stretch of Rt 66 of particular interest to Rt 66 fans. It's the last remaining in use part of Rt 66 that is brick paved. Please don't steal the bricks. It leaves holes in the pavement and is really rough on motorcycle riders hitting the holes.
A trip to Springfield would not be complete without trying a couple of culinary delights specific to Springfield.
Stop by the Route 66 Cozy Dog Drive Inn on S. 6th Street. Buz Waldmire was the guy who invented the hot dog on a stick in the 1940s. Others have tried to lay claim to that honor but those who do cannot get around the time frame of when Buz was making them. The Waldmire family still owns and runs the place. And DO NOT call them a corn dog. They're Cozy Dog. Corn dogs are just batter wrapped hot dogs. Cozy Dogs have a secret recipe that gives them a slightly different, and many think better, taste. Personally, I think the secret ingredient is a small touch of chili pepper. They're not hot and spicy, just different.
The other food invented in Springfield is the Horseshoe. The Horseshoe is a slice or 2 of thick toast open face, a layer of your choice of meat, all covered with fries, and then all of that covered with cheese sauce. Every restaurant in town has their own cheese sauce recipe and all debate whose is better. Darcy's Pint on Wabash usually comes out the winner in that debate. If you order the Horseshoe you better be very hungry. Most order the Ponyshoe which is a bit smaller but still huge. The Horseshoe is only found within a few miles of Springfield unless the chef has been to or from Springfield and has taken the idea with them to a new location.
Another item to try is the Mel-O-Cream donut made in Springfield. If you've had a donut along the east coast from PA to SC and GA then you may have had a Mel-O-Cream but by a different name. 90% of the donuts made in Springfield by Mel-O-Cream are frozen and shipped to the east coast.
Just a few things to do in Springfield.
Camped in every state
