Les and Marcia's Bohemian Life: In The Land of Lincoln and Beer

As much as we loved our summer in Michigan, it feels great to be back on the road.

We had a short overnight stay in Shorewood ILjust outside of Joliet (Leisure Lake Resort). The next morning we moved on to Kampers Kompanion right between Springfield and St Louis.

So the best thing to do in Springfield is jump into the lore and history of our 16^th President. We started out at the Lincoln Library and Museum ( www.presidentlincoln.org ) (no pictures allowed outside of the rotunda). There are two not to miss complimentary movies. “The Ghosts of the Library” is a very surprising Holovision film. The second film is “Lincoln Eyes” it is an overview of Lincolns life from the prospective of the presidential artist. In the museum you wander into a log cabin and pop out on the streets of Springfield and the law offices of Lincoln and Herdon. You can follow his campaign and the other candidates with a broad cast by Tim Russert. We enter the White House, walk through his presidency and end with the train back to Springfield. This isn’t just a depiction of an amazing tortured man; it is a very cool creative space. It really made history fun. It is very easy to wander around

down town Springfield. Everywhere you turn it is Lincoln Mania!!!

When you go make sure you go to the Lincoln Library and Museum - the Lincoln libray is nice but not as exciting.

The Lincoln Family

Young Abe and Les - both in deep thought

Don't miss the chance to mash a Lincoln penny into a Lincoln penny

The Old State Capital - Where Lincoln launched his Senate campaign against Stephen Douglas

1(800) Call honest Abe

Lincolns Tomb

The majority of the sculptures are made from Confederate Cannons

This granite marker was President Lincolns temporary burial site -

We did tour a remodeled home ( www.dana-thomas.org ) in Springfield. The owner was raised in the house but wanted her Italianate home to be made more appropriate for entertaining (1902). So she called Frank Lloyd Wright of course. He ended up saving one room of the house and threw his style and ego into every bit of the largest of his Prairie style designs (no interior pictures). The home has 35 rooms and more then 100 pieces of original furniture. The Dana-Thomas house is now owed by the state of Illinoisand has been completely restored in 1990. I could really live here! A visit here is a donation of $5.00. If you have never visited a FLW house this is a beautiful opportunity.

Asian influenced roof line

Vertical morter lines are built out to give a seamless look

The inside was just perfect!!!

With only one day for St Louis we had to choose carefully. Tough to narrow it down but we went with The Arch first (completed in 1965). It is so easy to be struck with how big (630 feet high) and shiny it is and I do like shiny things (feel free to take pictures). After Les took my knifeand cork screw back to the truck we were allowed to go to the underground entrance. Part of your admission covers the Westward Expansion Museum. Everything else is extra. We did take the trip to the top. We followed the line and enjoyed the pictures and diagrams showing the arch being built and designed. The reason St Louis has the Arch is because the designer (Eero Saarinen) won the contest. St Louis wanted a monument to commemorate Thomas Jefferson and St Louis’role in the westward expansion. Great view from the top even though you have tiny dirty windows to peek from. No time limit at the top. The base of the Arch was a great place to have our picnic lunch. So glad we finally made it here.

Huh - it is a National Park - Cool

Big and Shiny

Mock up of the pod to the top

Construction pictures line the waiting line walls

View from the top

Us on the inside

Choice number two – of course - The Budweiser Tour!!!! We have been on many brewery tours, but by far this is the biggest, prettiest, and most generous tour we have done so far and they have Clydesdales. Tour is free, take pictures and you can sign up for The Beer Master Tour ($25.00) or Beer School($10.00). Anything you do here will be fun.

Getting ready for a a a a education