Illinois State
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 VINTAGE ILLINOIS STATE FAIR DAIRY CATTLE 1ST PLACE RIBBON 1947 EXCELLE $7.99 Time Remaining: 29d 12h 22m Buy It Now for only: $7.99 |
 1893 Chicago Worlds Fair Illinois State Souvenir Badge Columbian Exposition $22.50 (2 Bids) Time Remaining: 14h 12m |
 VINTAGE ILLINOIS STATE FAIR DAIRY CATTLE 2nd PLACE RIBBON 1941 EXCELLE $7.99 Time Remaining: 29d 19h 35m Buy It Now for only: $7.99 |
 2006 ILLINOIS STATE FAIR RINGER T SHIRT MED 100 COTTON $4.99 Time Remaining: 22h 15m |
 VINTAGE ILLINOIS STATE FAIR DAIRY CATTLE 7th PLACE RIBBON 1940 EXCELLE $7.99 Time Remaining: 29d 12h 22m Buy It Now for only: $7.99 |
 VINTAGE ILLINOIS STATE FAIR DAIRY CATTLE 2nd PLACE RIBBON 1938 EXCELLE $7.99 Time Remaining: 29d 12h 22m Buy It Now for only: $7.99 |
 ILLINOIS STATE FAIR BOOK AUGUST 12 21 1994 $2.99 Time Remaining: 2d 13h 9m |
 WWII era 1940 Illinois State Fair YOUTH DAY PINBACK Button Badge Pin $4.99 Time Remaining: 25d 20h 34m Buy It Now for only: $4.99 |
 1933 Above Average HALL OF STATES FEDERAL CHICAGO WORLDS FAIR Post Card w 1c $1.60 Time Remaining: 14d 18h 58m Buy It Now for only: $1.60 |
 Vintage Souvenir State Plate Illinois Tollway Plate Souvenir 7 Scenes 9 $24.99 Time Remaining: 1d 22h 7m |
 Design of motel lodge of Illinois Beach State Park Zion IL 1962 Article $6.68 Time Remaining: 13d 9h 23m Buy It Now for only: $6.68 |
 1936 ILLINOIS STATE FAIR CHORUS PIN w RIBBON SPRINGFIELD ILLINOIS $6.99 Time Remaining: 25d 17h 1m Buy It Now for only: $6.99 |
 1941 Illinois State Fair Springfield Program and Map Agriculture Farm Pageant $9.99 Time Remaining: 3d 20h 20m |
 1986 38th Annual Central States Threshermens Reunion Pin Pontiac Illinois IL $4.99 Time Remaining: 17d 16h 49m Buy It Now for only: $4.99 |
 Postcard 1904 St Louis Worlds Fair Illinois State Build $9.99 Time Remaining: 17d 15h 36m Buy It Now for only: $9.99 |
 ILLINOIS STATE FAIR 1913 PIN BADGE GEN WC NEWBERRY COMMEMORATE THE SOLDIERS $14.95 Time Remaining: 5d 10m |
 Original 1940 Illinois State Fair Ticket $8.99 Time Remaining: 17d 16h 15m Buy It Now for only: $8.99 |
 1950s ILLINOIS STATE PARKS AND MEMORIALS BOOK $10.00 Time Remaining: 13d 22h 26m Buy It Now for only: $10.00 |
 1950s ILLINOIS STATE FAIR SPRINGFIELD BUMPER STICKER $7.88 Time Remaining: 3d 9h 59m Buy It Now for only: $12.88 |
 1955 Illinois State Fair vintage trade print ad $9.99 Time Remaining: 10d 22h 10m Buy It Now for only: $9.99 |
 Illinois State Fair 1946 Ad planning for 1947 fair $9.99 Time Remaining: 3d 22h 46m Buy It Now for only: $9.99 |
 1975 Illinois State Fair Matchbook used missing matches striker has been used $0.99 Time Remaining: 3d 22h 39m |
 1950S ILLINOIS STATE PARKS AND MEMORIAL 48 PAGE BOOK $9.99 Time Remaining: 16d 21h 3m Buy It Now for only: $9.99 |
 Postcard 1904 St Louis Worlds Fair Illinois State Build $9.99 Time Remaining: 25d 20h 18m Buy It Now for only: $9.99 |
 ILLINOIS STATE FAIR 1910 PIN BADGE GEN GEORGE THOMAS COMMEMORATE THE SOLDIERS $14.95 Time Remaining: 4d 23h 44m |
 ILLINOIS STATE FAIR Original 1948 Promo Poster Ad MINT $9.99 Time Remaining: 27d 16h 39m Buy It Now for only: $9.99 |
 ILLINOIS STATE FAIR AD SEPT 24 29 1900 GREATEST FAIR $6.99 Time Remaining: 16d 14h 43m Buy It Now for only: $6.99 |
 ILLINOIS STATE FAIR 1911 PIN BADGE GEN PHIL SHERIDAN COMMEMORATE THE SOLDIERS $14.95 Time Remaining: 4d 23h 57m |
 Heavy Duty Metal ID Reel Holder ILLINOIS STATE POLICE SILVER $9.99 Time Remaining: 7d 17h 36m Buy It Now for only: $9.99 |
 1910s SpringfieldIllinois Old State Capitol Wheelock Jonroth creamer Lincoln $16.99 Time Remaining: 13d 22h 20m Buy It Now for only: $16.99 |
 ILLINOIS STATE FAIR 1914 PIN BADGE GEN WINFIELD SCOTT COMMEMORATE THE SOLDIERS $14.95 Time Remaining: 5d 6m |
 Illinois Where East Meets West State Flower Patch $6.40 Time Remaining: 19d 19h 6m Buy It Now for only: $6.40 |
 Heavy Duty Metal ID Reel Holder ILLINOIS STATE POLICE GOLd $9.99 Time Remaining: 7d 17h 26m Buy It Now for only: $9.99 |
 ILLINOIS STATE FAIR 1915 PIN BADGE GENBEN J FBUTLER COMMEMORATE THE SOLDIERS $14.95 Time Remaining: 5d 12m |
 Vintage 1968 Otto Kerner Dash Illinois state fair Horse Blanket $25.00 Time Remaining: 21h 55m Buy It Now for only: $25.00 |
Visit Abraham Lincoln's Hometown of Springfield, Illinois
Springfield is Illinois' state capital. The capital is very beautiful, but security is very anal, worse than the US Capital and the Liberty Bell in Philadelphia. We had visited them after 9-11 and were understandable. After just visiting Indian and Ohio's Capitals, which had no metal detectors, I was quite appalled by the scope of their security. Even my shoes set off the detectors. The reason for the tight security, we were told, is that an individual shot last summer one of the outside guards to death. So the State of Illinois went overboard with their paranoia. With the history of their past governors, perhaps they need to have intense security.
Enough griping. The White Sox, who swept the World Series, were in town and were being honored with a joint session of the legislature. That was pretty exciting. The Capital is very beautiful and is a combination of French and neo-classical styles.
We also visited the State Museum, which is pretty interesting. The main floor is an exhibit of Changes, an interactive exploration of the geological, anthropological, and cultural developments of the State. Little known facts are that no dinosaurs have been found in Illinois, because it was part of a vast Inland Sea until the last ice age. Also of interest is the New Madrid fault, which produces almost two hundred earthquakes per year; most are imperceptible. One in 1811 changed the course of the Mississippi River, causing it to flow upstream for a while.
Go to the Lincoln Museum. This museum opened in spring, 2005 and is the state of the art. Everything is on one floor and the exhibits are four plus stars. The main theater gives a half hour presentation on the life of Lincoln, done in holographs, multi-screen, smoke producing and seat rumbling cannon fire and many other special effects. The price of admission is worth this show by itself. Another theater deals with the Presidential Library and some of the artifacts in the collection revealing himself or herself in ghost like fashion. The simplest, but most informative exhibit is the history of the Civil War done in four minutes, where each week equals one second. On the lower right of the screen is the casualty count of the North and South, which went over 1,300,000. The map begins with the election of Lincoln and follows the war on all of its fronts, emphasizing major battles in the war. The lines continuously move according to the territory won or lost with the eventual surrender of the CSA in Texas. There are many other exhibits, each one unique and very interesting. This is a must see for anyone, who either loves or hates A. Lincoln. There is something for everyone.
We then walked the five blocks to Lincoln's home in Springfield. The four block square historical neighborhood is owned and operated by the NPS. Pick up your free tickets for a ½ hour guided tour of the house at the Visitor Center. The VC also has a movie on the house, if you can't spare the time to go inside. The movie continues with a montage of the life of Lincoln, narrated by Carl Sandburg. The film is grainy, but the soundtrack of Aaron Copland's music and Sandburg's voice is worth the minor inconvenience. Lincoln lived in this house for seventeen years while acting as an attorney in the Springfield area. Many of the artifacts are original, while other ones are period pieces reflecting his lifestyle.
Two other houses on the block are open to visitors with exhibits on the archeology and life in Springfield.
About the Author
John Pelley is a Geriatric Gypsy. He is retired from the rat race of working. He is a full-time RVer, who ran away from home. He began our travels on the East Coast and, like the migrating birds, seek the warmth of the seasons He has discovered volunteering with the National Park System. He has a CD he has recorded of Native American flute music., A Day with Kokopelli. For pictures, links, and more information visit http://www.jmpelley.org.
Illinois State University Campus Tour
Tags: chicago, education, government, illinois, illinois state board of education, illinois state fair, illinois state parks, illinois state police, illinois state university, reference
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