It is Abe himself welcoming you with a slight twinkle in his eye. He has plastic skin that resembles human flesh and has been made to look much friendlier than any marble staue ever could. This life sized statue looks like he could be your buddy, your neighbor and ready to help in any disaster that could befall you.

A further look into the museum reveals a Disney-like vibe about it. It is engaging and fun. It offers multimedia displays, holographs, and interactiver touch screens. It also contains 36 other life-like inhabitants such as Mary Lincoln, their children, John Wilkes Booth, Frederick Douglas and so on. These figures, that do not move, help you to enter the lives of these folks as well as the life of President Lincoln. For instance, at one point you turn a corner and suddenly you’re in a White House bedroom in 1862. Your right there at the foot of a bed where Willie Lincoln, portrayed by a realistic figure, is gravely ill with typhoid. Mary Lincoln dressed in a ball gown is tending to him. His worried father pokes his head in the door. Sounds of a reception going on downstairs is filtered in to complete an eerie and yet marvelous experience. Visitors to the library and museum walk through a series of these “journeys” that depict aspects of Lincoln’s Life.

The museum powerfully communicates the agony of the slave trade. This allows children to get the message without being overwhelmed by it. It also contains a spectacular mural of Gettysburg, a 40-foot wide painting that depicts not only the battle, but also the burying of the dead and Lincoln’s address.

It is truely a wonder, and students of museum lighting schools will study this place for years to come. As you walk from room to room, from exhibit to exhibit, the lighting changes constantly from dim to bright, from pinpoint spotlights to boisterous chandeliers, from blues to red, and so on. The eye is never bored!

The use of sound is unbelievable also. For example, in the “Whispering Gallery,” hidden voices whisper some of the personal attacks made on the Lincoln during the Civil War. Also: music of the era, cannonfire, birds chirping, crackling fires, and loud vivacious crouds can be heard just to name a few.

This museum follows my theory, that we have come so far from that era. Too for our children to understand why things were done the way they were, why people behaved in the manner in which they did, the magnitude of the change in government and the sacrifice, that unless we bring it to life for them, or make it so vivid they can close their eyes…hear the sounds, smell the smoke, taste the soot etc. they will never understand. Until we stimulate them in a manner that makes them thurst for more, to want to read more, to experience more, to want to research for the truth. The truth of that time period will never be known, we will never fully understand how that war changed the face of America forever.

 I challenge you to make this your next family vacation. To invest in the future of your children, yourselves and our country. Make it a historical day!

IF YOU GO:

Springfield Illinois is on Interstate 55, 200 miles southwest of Chicago and 100 miles northest of St. Louis. Here are some additional suggestion for a visit to the city. (Consult their websites for hours and additional information.)

The Lincoln House: 413 South Eighth St: (217) 391-3226

Grand Army of the Republic Memrial Museum: 629 South 7th St: (217) 522-4373

Shea’s Gas Station Musuem: 2075 Poria Road (217) 522-0475 

New Salem: 15588 History Lane, Petersburg, Ill (217) 632-4000

Lodging: There are many hotels on South Dirdsen Parkway, including a Crowne Plaza and a Holiday Inn Express and the Northfield Inn is just off 1-55

Leopa which stands for Lake Erie Offshore Performance Association had a lower than hoped for turn out this year. I have learned that it was mainly due to the economy in the Great lakes Area, but also due to various mechanical breakdowns in the early season with a few of their long time members and affiliates.

However, the fewer in number did not slow down their generosity or in their belief in helping those less fortunate. Leopa Vice Commodore, Brian Bunch, along with his Thunderfest committee, raised well over what they needed to meet their budget. Not only were they able to contribute $5,500.00 to God Works, the local soup kitchen helping to feed Monroe County that has been severely affected by the Automotive Crisis, but they were able to up the purse paying 20 positions in money and/or prises. This all in hopes of promoting the event even more for future years. Leopa was able to attract event participants as far away as Arizona and Maine this year. They can only hope that these participants enjoyed the event so much they tell friends and they bring their boats to next years event.

 Hats-off to Leopa and to the participants for the job well-done. Monroe Michigan is grateful for your contribution. We also enjoyed the sights and sounds of some of the most beautiful boats on the Great lakes. Event pictures and future events can be found on their website www.leopa.com

Again, as always, make it a historical day!!!!!!!!!

Savannah

This year on May 30th President Barack Obama will address another crowd assembled on the same National Mall in front of the Lincoln Memorial and there will be no segregated seating. “We want to be able to showcase the diversity of the nation, celebrate equality, and show what’s happened in the country since Lincoln’s time until today, ” says Jennifer Rosenfeld, deputy executive director of the Abraham Lincoln Bicentennial Commission. The rededication ceremony is part of a trio of free public events at the Lincoln Memorial that are apart of the yearlong nationwide series commemorating the bicentennial of Lincoln’s birth on February 12, 1809.

If you scroll to some of my earlier entries….I first reported on this last year as up and coming events.

Hope some of you are able to make it!

Have a Historical day!!!!!!!!

There were also significant contributions this small town made toward the Civil War in the form of Generals: Joseph Bailey, Jeremiah Rusk and Otho Strahl. James Ball Naylor wrote about Malta in the form of poetry and historical novels which focused on the struggles of the frontier settlers and Indian tribes in this area. He is remembered fondly in the towns history and on signs placed throughout the area.

The town itself is quaint. Vistors should see the Town hall, Rock Hollow School and the reconstructed Morgan County Dundeon that was operated from 1833 to 1839.

In the month of July each year the Malta/ McConnelsville, Ohio or Hanoverton Heritage Days, Ohio is held. This reenactment including both sides of the conflict is a real treat to experience. If you would like to experience all of this, it is possible to do so over an extended weekend and I suggest in the month of July. Fall is also a good time to take in the glorious Fall colors.

Nearby Historical places to stay and visit are:

The Lafayette Hotel in Marietta Ohio opened in 1916 and was named in honor of the Marquis de Lafayette who visited the city in 1825 at a site near the hotel. It is triangular in shape and can offer its guests views of the Ohio or Muskingum Rivers. The diningroom features quite a display of longrifles, including one made by J. J. Henry that accompanied the Benedict Aronold expedition to Quebec in 1775. Maritta Ohio is an official stop for the Delta Queen Steamboat Company. Several times a year, the Mississippi Queen, the Grand American Queen, and/or the Delta Queen dock at the Ohio River Levee beside the Lafayette Hotel. Nearby attractions to the Hotel are the Fenton Art Glass, The Castle, Underground Railroad Tour at the Levee House Cafe, Valley Gem Sternwheeler Museum and the Marietta Soda Museum just to name a few.

A side excursion and wonderful place to stay while visiting the area is the Stockport Mill Inn, in Stockport Ohio at Lock #6 on the Muskingum River. This jewel of a hotel which was originally a Mill includes wonderful eating, beautiful views and a therapeutic atmosphere. Another historical must see and all of these are 4-5 hours from Monroe County Michigan, which is where blogsmonroe.com originates.

I hope you take the time to enjoy one of my weekend excursions. I would love to hear from some of you as to whether there is an interest in me putting together a bus tour together orginating from Monroe Michigan, and traveling to Gettysburg during which time I will be your historical tour guide in the Spring of next year or would most of you want to experience the Gettysburg address commemoration in the Fall? Please leave me your comments…………………….

The Johnson’s Island Museum was opened in the summer of 2001.  Many of its items are from private collections owned by individuals who want the public to learn about what happened there. The museum is open form Memmorial Day to Labor Day on weekends and holidays unless other arrangements are made through the historical society by e-mailing jipres@johnsonsisland.org

The history of the island dates back as far as 1809 to Epaproditus Bull. He and his family settled on Marblehead penninsula in May of 1809. But, due to numerous Indian attacks, they fled to Cleveland, Ohio.  Bull died, having never returned to the island in 1812 of disease. His family returned to the peninsula and retained ownership of the Island until 1852.

In 1852, Leonard B. Johnson purchased the island and named it Johnson’s Island. He then proceeded to clear several acres of land for farming. In the Fall of 1861 and the beginning of the Civil War, the U.S. Army leased 40 cleared acres of the island from Johnson to establish a Prisoner of War Depot. The Depot was in operation for the Federals from April 1862, one year after the war began, until September 1865. The following year the Army auctioned off its interest and anything surplus on that site.

An additional point of interest while visiting Johnson’s Island is a side jaunt to the nearby Marblehead Lighthouse.

There are some great hotels in the area, or an additional side excursion after visiting the Island and the Lighthouse would be to hop the ferry in Port Clinton and visit Put-In-Bay. Home to the famous 1812 battle and the story of Commodore Perry.

For the Civil War buff, those of you studying to one day work in the medical field, and those of you whom already do, you should not miss this. It is a trip that you can enjoy by itself over a weekend, along with the rich history of Frederick, Maryland itself which was founded in 1745 by English and German settlers. Frederick is a crossroads of American History. You can discover its rich history by taking a selfguided walking tour ,which consists of over 20 points of Historical interest. Frederick is also a mecca for antiquing and specialty shopping. This destination can also be used as a side excursion and a must see, mid-point stop, while touring the local battlefields all within approx. 1 hour of Frederick. A stop at the museum during a battlfield tour, helps to complete ones understanding of what the soldiers experienced when they were wounded during this time period, and the sacrifice made by each and every one of them.

My suggestion while in Frederick, stay at the Travel Lodge which is conveniently located in the midst of all that Frederick has to offer, otherwise there are wonderful bed and breakfasts locally operated in the area also. You can log into the Museums website at www.civilwarmed.org for times, its address and special events. Happy traveling and discovering our rich American History!!!!!!!!!!