Immerse Yourself in the Life of President Abraham Lincoln

After visiting Ford’s Theater in Washington, D.C., I was intrigued about the life of President Abraham Lincoln. I was curious to know how he came to be president of the United States as tensions around slavery were building. Since my wife and I were heading to Illinois on our Midwest road trip, I was sure to include Springfield, Illinois, in our itinerary. After all, the Abraham Lincoln Presidential Library and Museum is housed there.

We absolutely LOVED the Abraham Lincoln Presidential Library and Museum. After touring the two primary areas of the museum, my wife commented, “This is just like a ride at Disneyland.” We both agreed that it truly immersed us in the life of this man and presented the history in a way that brough tit to life.

Well, as we were wrapping up our visit, we asked one of the employees if he could share something with us about this museum that stands out. He thought for a moment and said, “The museum was designed by a former Disney Imagineer.” Well, that Imagineer did a pretty darn good job designing this place then. 🙂

Here’s a rundown on what you’ll find at the Abraham Lincoln Presidential Library and Museum so you can plan your visit to this wonderful and educational museum.

Directions and Tickets to the Abraham Lincoln Presidential Library and Museum

The Abraham Lincoln Presidential Library and Museum is located in downtown Springfield, Illinois. One of the tricky parts about getting to the museum is that many of the roads are One Way. So it may take a little back tracking and turns in order to get to the right spot. There are also two different buildings – one is the library and the other is the museum.

As for parking, there are a few options. One is to get really lucky and find an on-street parking spot. There aren’t many spots available, but who knows? The other option is in the parking garage located on the corner of Sixth and Madison Streets. The cost is 75 cents per 1/2 hour, with a daily limit of $9.75. The parking lot is open daily from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m.

When it comes to tickets, I recommend you purchase tickets online in advance of your visit. The tickets can be purchased online up to three months in advance of your visit. Here’s a rundown on ticket prices:

• $15 Adults
• $12 Seniors (62+) and students (with ID)
• $10 Military (with ID)
• $6 Youth (5-15)
• FREE Children four and under

Tickets are valid for the entire day. This means you can begin your visit in the morning, step out for some lunch and return to continue exploring the museum or catch one of the theater presentations you may have missed.

Abraham Lincoln Before the White House

As you enter the main rotunda of the museum, you’ll notice to main entrances – one’s a log cabin and the other’s the White House. You’ll want to start by entering the log cabin. That’s the best way to learn about Lincoln’s life – chronologically.

Abraham Lincoln was definitely a felt starter. He learned to read on his own and spent hours reading in front of the fireplace in his family’s one-room cabin. As you step into different areas, you’ll learn about what he found as he ventured from home.

Learn about the women he loved, the schooling he later received, the business he started and his family. It was interesting to learn about the debates between Stephen A. Douglas and Abraham Lincoln over slavery. Wax figures show some of the scenes from Lincoln’s life that really help you get a sense of his time.

One of the more interesting displays was a modern-day newscast highlighting the candidates running for President in 1860. It was entertaining to watch, to say the least, and Tim Russert did a fabulous job at the election news coverage. And as you may know, Lincoln won and moved into the White House as president of the United States. That’s where the next exhibit area picks up with Lincoln’s life story.

President Abraham Lincoln in the White House

During our visit, my wife and I had a great conversation with Abraham Lincoln and his wife Mary. They were impersonators and looked pretty convincing. It was a nice addition to have them there to talk history.

As we entered the White House, we learned much about their experiences after the election. There’s a collection of dresses Mary wore during their time in Washington, DC. After that, the scene changes for Lincoln. The southern states start to secede from the Union and a Civil War begins.

One room reminded me of Disneyland’s Haunted Mansion. Political cartoons were framed in unique angles and low-lit rooms. But it captures the point that things were getting dark for the country as Lincoln would fight to keep it together.

In one room, you see President Lincoln’s Cabinet members in discussions about the Emancipation Proclamation. Learn who was in support and who was against. The debate was real and the weight of the decision rested upon Lincoln. I can’t even imagine.

RELATED POST: Visit Ford’s Theater in Washington, D.C., to expand your understanding of Abraham Lincoln

As the Civil War progresses, the death toll adds up. A video screen shows the front lines shifting and the death toll rising. It’s an overview of the Civil War in four minutes. Eventually, the North won and the country was kept together. But some weren’t happy about it.

The final few areas wrap up the short life of Abraham Lincoln, from the fateful night at Ford’s Theater to him Lying in State in the rotunda.

4-D Experiences in Theater Presentations

Yet another must-do at the Abraham Lincoln Presidential Library and Museum are the two theater presentations. They’re more than a short film. They are both experiences that will wow you.

When you first arrive, check the showtimes for each theater. Be sure you plan accordingly so you can watch them. It’s okay to pause between the two main exhibits to catch a presentation.

Lincoln’s Eyes is in the Union Theater and includes rumble seats. At one point, a cannon fires circles of smoke over the heads of the audience. I don’t want to ruin what you’ll see, but trust me – you don’t want to miss it.

The other theater has the Ghosts of the Library presentation. It’s really well done with lots of special – almost ghostly – effects. When it’s over, you’ll need a moment to wonder how they did what they did. I still can’t explain the magic of it, but it was awesome.

Other Special Exhibits at the Presidential Library

Besides the two main exhibits and the two theater presentations, the Abraham Lincoln Presidential Library and Museum has a few special exhibit areas. They may switch out, so I’ll share with you the ones we saw during our visit.

As you exit the White House years of Lincoln, a special exhibit area includes trinkets from the life of Lincoln. For example, there are gloves with blood on them, which were tucked into Lincoln’s left side coat pocket the night of his assassination.

A smaller theater shows a few video stories from the Holocaust in a 270-degree’ish screen.

A larger special exhibit is Stories of Survival. It’s a collection of items that were photographed and are now on display in this exhibit. The stories come from more than just the Holocaust, but other wars and troubles around the world.

One hidden and unexpected gem was a journal from a British airman from World War II, Harry Reuse (see above photo). He was shot down in July 1944 and held in a POW camp known as Stalag Luft III. During his time there, he kept a detailed journal of life in the camp, including maps. Well, my grandpa was an American POW in Stalag Luft III and arrived in June 1944 – one month before this British airman. Oh, how I would love to find a digitized version of this journal to learn more about life in Stalag Luft III.

Who’d have thought I’d find something about my grandpa’s POW camp in the Abraham Lincoln Presidential Library and Museum? But I thought it was awesome and shared that find with my family.

The Details

Address: 212 N 6th St, Springfield, IL 62701

How long to spend: About 2-3 hours.

Cost: $15 for adults, $12 for seniors (62+) and students (with ID), $10 for military (with ID), $6 for youth (5-15) and children four and under are free. Tickets are valid for the entire day, so you can come and go as you please for that day.

Hours: Open daily from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. The last tickets are sold at 4 p.m. (1 hour before the museum closes). Closed on New Year’s Day, Thanksgiving Day, Christmas Day.

Website: https://presidentlincoln.illinois.gov/

Phone: (217) 558-8844

DISCLOSURE: I received two complimentary admission tickets to the Abraham Lincoln Presidential Library and Museum for the purpose of review. All opinions are my own.

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