State Parks
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Illinois State Parks
Cahokia Mounds State Historic Site
6/3/2017 Cahokia Mounds (State Historic Site with Kiosk). The site of a pre-Columbian Native American city
(c. 600–1400 CE), covering 2200 acres and containing about 80 mounds. Luckily the grounds are open through the evening, so we could
walk some of the trails and check out the varying size mounds. We would have liked to climb the very tall and impressive one, but
we simply didn't have time. Also, the weather was more uncomfortable than it has been - nice sun but more humid and reaching 91.
The park sign
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Park info ...
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... and me reading National Road info
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Looking at the mounds area
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Another view
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An idea of what used to be here
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Monks Mound
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David Davis Mansion State Historic Site
10/16/2021 ... and headed to nearby Bloomington for David Davis House NHL and SHS (in the Abraham Lincoln NHA). This Italianate villa-style Victorian home was
the residence of the Supreme Court justice and Senator from Illinois. The home, in very attractive yellow stone, looked particularly nice in the morning sun and blue skies.
The park sign ...
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... and info
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Various views ...
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... of the mansion ...
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... in the sun
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One more ...
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... and some detail
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Lewis & Clark State Historic Site
7/27/2006 Lewis and Clark National Historic Trail
10/17/2021 Lewis and Clark National Historic Trail
Lincoln Tomb State Historic Site
7/28/2006 ... then drove a short way to Oak Ridge Cemetery and Lincoln’s Tomb State Historic Site [Lincoln Tomb NHL].
Large memorial building with obelisk; inside saw the headstone (grave deep beneath) and tomb of Mary Lincoln and two children.
The park sign
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A view of the monument
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Some statue detail
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Lincoln bust
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Abe's tomb ...
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... and his wife's
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Just like in DC
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10/16/2021 We then continued to Oak Ridge Cemetery for a visit at the Lincoln Tomb NHL and SHS (in the Abraham Lincoln NHA), the final resting place of the
President, taking our photos outside and going inside. There are a number of bronze statues of Lincoln and of course the marble sarcophagus that used
to be his tomb, but which is now over his tomb in a vault in the ground below.
A view of the monument ...
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... and close up
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Big Abe bust
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Good luck!
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Shiny nose
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A younger Abe ...
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... and older
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The tomb area
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The sarcophagus
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Classic statue
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Nicholas Jarrot Mansion State Historic Site
10/17/2021 Adjacent on one side is Nicholas Jarrot Mansion NHL and SHS. Built in 1807–1810 for the son of French colonists,
it is a rare example of Federal architecture in the upper Mississippi River valley, noted for its odd look due to inexperienced masons. We enjoyed
checking out the rather wonky brickwork that made the whole front look a little wavy.
The park sign ...
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... with a view to the mansion
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A couple of views ...
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... of the front
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A look inside
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See the wonky front?
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A little uneven
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Old State Capital State Historic Site
10/16/2021 Old State Capitol NHL and SHS, in the Abraham Lincoln NHA. This is the fifth Illinois capitol building, built in the Greek Revival style and
serving as the state house from 1840 to 1876; Abraham Lincoln announced his Presidential candidacy here. As sometime happens with us the nice dome
was covered with scaffolding - oh well.
The park area ...
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... and a 3/4 view
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A front view ...
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... with close-up
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Pullman State Historic Site
10/15/2021 Pullman National Monument
Susan Lawrence Dana House State Historic Site
10/16/2021 Susan Lawrence Dana House NHL and SHS. A 1902 home in Prairie School style designed by Frank Lloyd Wright for
the heiress and patron, it reflects their mutual affection for organic architecture, the relatively flat landscape of Illinois, and the Japanese aesthetic.
A side view ...
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... and classic detail
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Around the front ...
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... and continuing ...
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... to the other side
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More detail
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Ken and me
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Vachel Lindsay House State Historic Site
10/16/2021 Vachel Lindsay House NHL and SHS. Built in 1848, this was the 1879 birthplace and lifelong home of poet Nicholas Vachel Lindsay.
The park sign ...
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... and the house
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A couple of ...
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... front views
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Vandalia State House State Historic Site
6/3/2017
Abraham Lincoln National Heritage Area