Kids of all ages are fascinated by Abraham Lincoln, including big kids. My mom, sister, 10 year old great niece Alice, and I went to Springfield recently to view the Lincoln Museum and other sites.

Alice is at that age when she is becoming more aware of our country’s history and our state’s legacy of great statesmen. My mom thought she would enjoy learning more about President Lincoln and his legacy.

Her father said that Alice was excited all week prior to our trip about what she was going to see and learn. She could hardly sleep the night before. Her little brother is only two, so her father stayed behind to care for him.

The Lincoln Museum is wonderful. It beautifully combines art, history, pictures, movies, on-stage acting with a bit of Hollywood’s special effects. It was a memorable day for our family.

Alice saw a replica of Lincoln’s boyhood log cabin home, wax figures of the Lincolns and other famous people of the times, the entrance to the White House as it looked in the mid-1800’s, actual dresses that Mrs. Lincoln wore, a short history of slavery and the Civil War, and the assignation of President Lincoln. She was truly fascinated.

Later we went to the Lincoln family home in Springfield. The Visitor’s Center was staffed by National Park Service Rangers who were very helpful in explaining all the Lincoln sites in the area, as well as the Lincoln home and neighborhood.

The National Park Services has not only restored the Lincoln home, which we toured, but also the entire neighborhood in which the Lincoln’s lived in the 19th Century. The Lincoln’s home was filled with period furniture and other pieces which allowed us to imagine life during their times.

Alice was worried that three of the Lincoln’s sons--Eddie, Willie, and Tad--died at such a young age. Not only were they about the same age as Alice when they died, but her brother’s name is Willie which unnerved her even more.

We decided to visit the Lincoln Tomb at the cemetery as a way to give Alice “closure” to this story of the young boys. The Lincoln Tomb is very impressive. The State Park Service does a good job of preserving history without making the final resting place of the Lincoln’s too morbid. Alice was satisfied that the Lincolns were well cared for after their untimely deaths.

I never thought about the Lincolns the way that Alice did, at least not since I was 10 years old as she is now. It’s another lesson learned, this time through the eyes and mind of a child.

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