-
Edwards Place at
the Springfield Art Association
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Old State Capitol
State Historic Site
-
Vachel Lindsay Home
State Historic Site
-
Lincoln Tomb State
Historic Site
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Elijah Iles House
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Lincoln Home National Historic Site
By candlelight, each site will offer programs based upon this
Dec. 1, 1862, quotation from Abraham Lincoln: "The fiery trial
through which we pass, will light us down, in honor or dishonor, to
the latest generation."
Below is each site's program description.
Edwards Place at the Springfield Art Association
The Edwards family was torn apart by the Civil War. Benjamin
Edwards' grandparents were originally from Virginia, and many of his
cousins resided in the Deep South. Daughter Alice's fiancé Benjamin
Ferguson was a captain in the 114th Illinois Infantry. Join the
family in their parlors as they share the latest news from their
loved ones far away. Learn about camp life, and hear about the siege
of Vicksburg from Capt. Ferguson and the trials faced by Benjamin's
cousins in Alabama and Georgia.
Old State Capitol State Historic Site
During the Civil War the Springfield Ladies' Soldiers' Aid
Society often used the Illinois Capitol building as a base of
operations. The society was formed in August 1861 to gather food,
clothing and other supplies to aid Illinois soldiers, especially the
sick and the wounded. For months during 1862, members met in the
Senate chamber to make clothing and bandage material for use in
hospitals. Eventually, the society expanded its work, providing aid
to many civilians whose lives were changed by the war. Learn how
thousands of men, women and children were touched by the efforts of
these women from Springfield and neighboring communities.
Vachel Lindsay Home State Historic Site
On Oct. 15, 1922, in his introduction to "Adventures While
Singing These Songs," Vachel Lindsay said: "The Mason and Dixon's
Line runs straight through our house in Springfield still, and
straight through my heart."
Visitors at the Lindsay Home will see Vachel Lindsay at his desk
on that mid-October day, writing those lines and reminiscing about
his Kentucky ancestors' Civil War heritage and the effect it had on
three generations of Lindsay men.
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 Lincoln Tomb State Historic Site
For the first time, the Lincoln Tomb will be open for candlelight
tours that will highlight a Civil War story that took place shortly
after President Lincoln's assassination. As a result of this
national tragedy, designs for Abraham Lincoln's tomb were created.
Larkin Mead's original tomb design, as well as other tomb
submissions, will be displayed. Information about where the funds
came from to build the tomb and pictures of the original members of
the National Lincoln Monument Association will also be exhibited.
Interpreters in period dress will be on the grounds.
Elijah Iles House
The Iles House was home to Clara and Robert Irwin during the
Civil War years. As community leaders, they were active in
organizations that assisted soldiers and their families. During this
program a soldier from Camp Butler, a Union army mustering site only
5 miles east of Springfield, will come to the Irwin family's front
door. This young soldier will talk about his experiences at Camp
Butler, which became a detention camp for Confederate prisoners and,
later, Camp Butler National Cemetery, as it is known today.
Lincoln Home National Historic Site
Hear stories about Jameson Jenkins, a local Underground Railroad
conductor, who risked his life for a cause he was passionate about.
Even though Jenkins was a free black man, the Illinois "black codes"
limited his rights. Learn about Jenkins' life, his travels from
North Carolina to Indiana to seek greater opportunity, and his
desire to help others to freedom. Discover other acts of heroism and
bravery as slaves sought a better way of life by seeking freedom on
the Underground Railroad.
[Text from
National Park Service
news release received from
the Illinois Historic
Preservation Agency]
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