My Encounters, My Life: YSEALI PFP Day 15: Abraham Lincoln and Kentucky Derby

4 May 2019

Woke up to yet another day of good weather!

Lovely dandelion

Preggie cows

More dandelions!

A view of the horizon

Headed to the Abraham Lincoln Presidential Museum and Library. The museum is privately funded by the Abraham Lincoln Presidential Library Foundation.

Abraham Lincoln Presidential Musuem and Library at 212 N 6th St

Just got in and made it in time for the Ghosts of the Library show. The show used holographic images to create an immersive experience, highlighting the importance of history and documenting our past.

Ghosts of the Library

Why no left ear?

The artist John Gutson de la Mothe Borglum told Congress that Lincoln's "right side was determined, developed, ancient. The left side was immature."

"Lincoln's Eyes" show at the Union Theater

The show highlighted the life experiences of Abraham Lincoln, and discussed about his "lazy eye".

The museum exhibits were arranged in a chronological manner, beginning from his adolescence, to getting to know his wife, his political career as a Senator, then President and his assassination.

Lincoln's early years

Lincoln on a tree bark

Lincoln's home when he was young

Lincoln's early years were spent in a crowded one-room cabin with his family. He self-educated and taught himself how to read.

Lincoln built a flatboat, and used it to ferry travellers, earning his first dollar.

Slavery

Forces in the North wanted to limit slavery in the South or do away with it; while the South felt that everyone should be able to own slaves

Shackles used on slaves

Lincoln's love life

Lincoln grows to Manhood

Lincoln met Mary Ann Todd at a dance. Her lively wit and their mutual interest in politics drew them together

"Mary led the conversation - Lincoln would listen and gaze on her as if drawn by some superior power." -- Elizabeth Edwards, sister of Mary Todd

Lincoln moved to Springfield in 1837

Tombstone of Edward Baker Lincoln

Lincoln experienced several defeats early in his life. He lost in the election for Illinois state legislature in 1832; enlisted to fight in Black Hawk War in 1832 but fought no one; failed at business in 1833; ended engagement with Mary Todd in 1841; lost Whig nomination for Congress in 1843.

"These children (Willie and Tad) would come to our office and take down books - empty buckets - coal ashes - inkstands - gold pens, put them in a pile, then dance on the pile! Lincoln would say nothing, so blinded was he to his children's fautls." -- William Herndon, Lincoln's law partner

The site of Lincoln & Herndon law firm is preserved

The Lincoln-Douglas Senatorial Debates

Lincoln challenged Stephen Douglas for his seat in the US Senate. Douglas was for "popular sovereignty", which meant allowing individual states to decide whether slavery should be permitted within their states. Douglas won the Senate seat, but Lincoln established a national reputation for his position against slavery.

The other great debate

The US Supreme Court held in 1857 that the black man had "no rights which the white man was bound to respect".

Lincoln got together with his running mate Hannibal Hamlin for the first time in Chicago after winning the Presidential election

Lincoln had to grasp a broom handle to steady his muscles after shaking hundreds of well-wishers' hands

Lincoln ran for the state legislature and the US Congress as a member of the Whig party before joining the Illinois Republican party in 1856

Lincoln was elected to the presidency, against three other candidates, with less than 40% of the popular vote. The lack of a popular mandate resulted in Southern states, beginning with South Carolina, seceding from the US

Lincoln's Farewell Address delivered at the Great Western Railroad Depot on February 11, 1861 before leaving for Washington DC (text inscribed on a wall in front of the State Capitol). He would never return

South Carolina seceded from the Union

The next gallery featuring Lincoln's presidential life and career was aptly housed in this White House mock-up

Where did you buy that coffee?

The First Lady was mocked on her fashion sense

One of Mary Todd's social rival was Mrs Stephen Douglas

At his inauguration, Lincoln said that he would not fire the first shot. The first shot was fired by rebel forces against the federal garrison in Charleston Harbor, South Carolina. Lincoln's deteremination to preserve the Union left him with few options but to respond to their action by calling up the army. The Civil War had began

The Deep South states (in red) seceded from the Union and joined the confederates

Lincoln was met with many detractors, who launched personal and political attacks on him.

It is no wonder he always appeared pensive

"Long Abraham a little longer"

Lincoln's son, Willie, passed away from typhoid fever on the evening of a dinner thrown by the President to mark the redecorated White House

William "Willie" Wallace Lincoln dies

In spite of intense scrutiny and rumours about Mary's depression, as well as himself suffering from depression, Lincoln worked secretly on the Emancipation Proclamation

Lincoln and his Cabinet

As one walked along the exhibit, voices and images of naysayers uttering their disapproval of the Emancipation Proclamation lined by the sides

After the Union victory, Lincoln issued the Proclamation on 22 September 1862. It became effective 1 January 1863

In signing the Proclamation, Lincoln authorised the Army and Navy to become an emancipation force. As the troops moved southwards, they were officially freeing slaves day by day after 1 January 1863

Black Americans had a personal stake in the Civil War after the issuance of the Emancipation Proclamation

This time-lapsed video illustrated the territorial gains and losses by the Union and the Confederates

Heavy casualties on both sides

This exhibit carried real-life stories of soldiers involved during the Civil War. A separate exhibit depicted their plight after the war.

"Please touch"

Linoln's Gettysburg Address was highlighted at Lincoln's Tomb

Some of the soldiers made it, while others did not

"...the old flag had never touched the ground"

Lincoln was re-elected as President

The Thirteenth Amendment which abolished slavery

Second Inaugural Address of Lincoln

Lincoln visits Richmond

Lincoln receives news of Confederate General Robert Lee's surrender

Lincoln's last speech on 11 April 1865 delivered from the second story of White House. He talked about the future of the Union and presented the then-controversial prospect of giving African-American veterans the right to vote. Most of the audience were celebrating and did not pay attention. John Wilkes Booth listened intently and spurred him to assassinate Lincoln

The Ten Percent Plan: Any rebel state could regain its pre-war status if ten percent of its residents officially swore loyalty to the United States

Mary Lincoln's seamstress kept the spoon from Lincoln's last meal

Ford's Theatre - where the assassination took place

The perpetrator knew the play well, and knew exactly when the audience would be clapping and laughing. He took the opportunity to sneak in and fire his shot behind the President's left ear

A train carries Lincoln's Body back to Springfield

The Funeral Train

The trip took 15 days

There was an exhibit of the laying in state at the old State Capitol building.

The museum displayed personal mementos of Lincoln

Lincoln's Shaving Mirror

Illinois buys the Lincoln Home from Lincoln's son, who asked that the home be kept free of access to the public

Got the opportunity to ask Lincoln a few questions

Why did you issue so many pardons?

Do you think you're a handsome fellow?

The museum also showcased the life and times of John F. Kennedy, who was also assassinated during his presidency.

Happy Family

Made in China

The old State Capitol Building

Car-free streets for public activities

Aerobics

We arrived at Lincoln Home National Historic Site.

Lincoln's Farewell Address

The Council of War, depicting a meeting between Lincoln, Lt General Ulysses S Grant and Secretary of War Edwin M Stanton

As requested by the estate of Lincoln, Lincoln's home is kept free of charge for access. After getting a ticket for the scheduled tour, we went to the benches near the home and were briefed by the Park Ranger.

A very humorous and entertaining Park Ranger

The interior of Lincoln Home was refurbished to resemble what it used to be.

Lincoln slept on a separate bed from his wife. It was common in those days, and given Lincoln's height, he probably required more space

Just sitting outside Lincoln Home

Info-booth on Poison Ivy by the National Park Service

The neighbourhood of Lincoln Home had also been preserved

We left Lincoln Home and headed to tour the Old State Capitol, where Lincoln served as a Senator.

28-year-old Lincoln settled in Springfield

Springfield was the centre of Lincoln's world for a quarter century

Inside the old State Capitol:

Senate Chamber - this was where the body of Lincoln laid in State. Senators' desks were removed during the funeral. Only the portrait of Washington remained in the hall during the funeral

Voting for the Thirteenth Amendment

House Chamber

Lincoln (1864) called on the 148th Ohio Infantry to "stand fast to the Union and the old flag."

Governor's Office

Supreme Court

The Illinois Supreme Court weighs in on slavery

Secretary of State's Office

Old State Capitol

Popped in the shops for window shopping

"I am the teacher!"

"Why should there not be a patient confidence in the ultimate justice of the people? Is there any better or equal hope in the world?" -- Lincoln's first Inaugural Address

The old train station - where Obama announced his bid for Presidential Elections

Scott and Chris invited us to join them and their friends at Shepp's Bar & Grill to experience the gathering of the community

The bar, situated right beside a library

Crawfish

Much effort to savour that teeny meeny bit of flesh

I had asked Scott on how the community bonds and get to know one another, given that the distance between one household to another in the countryside is far apart. He had shared about bars like Shepp's as well some of the activities people gather to participate. One of it is the Queen of Hearts game.

Weekly draws take place and participants stand to win cash prizes

It was Kentucky Derby (horse racing) day, and ladyfolks came in their Derby hats.

A lady in a cool Derby hat

Little did we know that the winner "Maximum Security" was disqualified after the match, for the first time in the history of Kentucky Derby

Mariah's Restaurant

We had dinner with Angel, Scott, Chris, Jennifer and Prudence

Dinner

Bonfire!

Scott gave a crash course on how to make s'mores, which consists of a roasted marshmallow and a layer of chocolate placed between two pieces of cracker. And then we each took turns at it.