Lincoln's Springfield Home: The Man Before the Monument

Springfield, Illinois. Whenever I'm not living under the restrictions of an apocalyptic pandemic quarantine, a week rarely goes by that I don't visit a historical museum of one kind or another. I've spent the last few years traveling the country coast to coast and off the coasts, visiting many of the best of them, at least until last February when COVID changed everything. Since that time, I've made do with virtual tours and more books than I ever thought I could read in a 12-month span. TIMELINE 1839: It was a much smaller house at the time, it was only about a story and a half, and was shaped like a T. 1860: appearance, which is right before the Lincolns left Washington. 1861: Abraham and Mary kept this as a rental, with plans of returning after serving in Washington. 1865: she refused to come back, and the house was later donated to the state of Illinois. WHY THIS MATTERS The story of Springfield is a reminder that the events that shaped America didn't always happen in the biggest cities. What unfolded here left marks on the community that are still visible today. The full story is more complicated, and more human, than the version most people know. Episode 19 | Hometown History | Hosted by Shane Waters If you liked this: Episode 170 (Ottawa, Illinois) Hometown History explores forgotten stories from small-town America. The overlooked events, hidden triumphs, and buried tragedies that shaped the country we live in. New episodes every Tuesday. Find every episode at mythsandmalice.com/hometown-historyAdvertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brandsPrivacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy