Rolls-Royce Owner’s Club Tours Springfield, Illinois

On Friday, October 14, 2006 The Rolls-Royce Owner’s Club (Lake Michigan Region) headed for Springfield, Illinois to visit the new Lincoln Museum and other historic sites.

The club met at the State Capital for a private back-door tour of the building. Though much of the structure is under renovation there was still much to see and learn about. Along the corridors are paintings depicting the history of this great state. One painting shows Abraham Lincoln standing near a river raft/boat on which he holds a patent for designing an adjustable steering device. Lincoln is the only US President to hold a patent. With marble and art everywhere to be seen in this building it easy to understand why people from all over the country come to behold it.

After the Capital Building tour the club met at the Crown Plaza Hotel in Springfield where they had a block of rooms together. Dinner was held at the hotel and everyone settled in for the evening. On Saturday morning the group gathered at 7:00 AM for breakfast then headed to for Lincoln’s home at 8:00 AM. While there the club toured the house and learned much about Lincoln and his family. The house was originally 1-1/2 stories and later converted to a full 2-story home. All the details of the home remain intact from the time of Lincoln. There is even a churning house in the back yard. After touring the home the group went on a walk of the grounds and neighborhood.

At 10:30 the club met at the famous Dana-Thomas House designed by Frank Lloyd Wright. In 1902 Frank Lloyd Write was commissioned by the Springfield Socialite Susan Lawrence Dana to expand the old family home into a fitting residence to greet society. In the course of the next two years at the cost of almost $60,000.00 Frank Lloyd Wright designed one of his finest homes. This home and his own residence are the only two structures that he designed that contain curved vaulted ceilings. In fact there are two in the Dana-Thomas House. The house is replete with prairie patterns including Mrs. Dana’s favorite creature – the butterfly.

The party broke up into three separate groups to tour the home. The guides were courteous and very knowledgeable about the house. The house is almost labyrinthine in design with turns and changes of elevation at every corner. The house is also very dark in comparison to today’s standards. The attention to detail is unique to this house, every thing is in working order and almost 97% of the interior furnishings are present.

After touring the Dana-House the group gathered for a refreshing luncheon at the Sangamon Club just a short distance from the house. This is a private club with a long time historic tie to Springfield history.

In mid afternoon the group took to meet at New Salem, the young adult home of Lincoln. In much the same manner as Greenfield Village of Michigan, this is an historic town with replicas of many of the log cabins and shops from Lincoln’s time. People are dressed up in cloths of the time doing chores and pounding iron for all to see. The main road ends at a wonderful old mill down by the Sangamon River.

At dinner time the club met at Maldaner’s, a restaurant that has been in business for over 100 years in Springfield. It is full of old world charm and vitality and the club member had a warm and hearty welcome by the owners. After dinner club members alighted to the hotel.

On Sunday morning after breakfast the club went on its last destination in Springfield, the Abraham Lincoln Presidential Museum and Library. This last stop made the entire trip worth while. The museum is a state-of-the-art facility that fully engages the visitor with Abraham Lincoln’s life and works. Of particular interest was the four minute geographical enactment of the Civil War. The presentation compresses each week of the war to a second. As time moves you can see the boundaries between the North and South change, the image looks much like a living organism.

All through the museum there were outstanding displays of Lincoln artifacts including a hand written draft of the Gettysburg Address. Dioramas depicting the Lincoln family dressed in clothing of the period and jewels from Mary Lincoln’s wardrobe. The entire museum was a fountain of information on Lincoln and his life. It is a must see for everyone.