Friday, August 24, 2012

52 Weeks of Dresses -- Week 39

Otherwise titled: Springfield, Day 2

After all the mid-19th-century history we got on Saturday, we started out Sunday with something just a tad bit more recent: the Dana-Thomas House, a Frank Lloyd Wright masterpiece.  You aren't allowed to take pictures inside (there are some here), but you should go yourself and see it.  The house is about 12,000 square feet, and there are so many great rooms to see.  You can tell FLW thought through every detail of the architecture and design.  It was an awesome spot!

The courtyard

The reflecting pool

Me (in my dress!) in front of the "entertaining" entrance, which Mrs. Dana demanded.  The house also had FLW's signature hidden entrances.  Rumor is that he refused to use this main door because he didn't like the style.

The streetscape

Our third and final roadfood.com suggestion was our brunch stop: Charlie Parker's Diner.  It was the best of the three, I'd say.  There was quite a line when we arrived, but like any good diner, they moved people through pretty quickly.  I had the stuffed cherry French toast, which is basically the breakfast version of cherry pie - how can you go wrong?

It was such a lovely day (we had perfect weather the whole weekend, actually) that we decided to get some fresh air, so visited the Lincoln home.  The National Park Service has closed off the four blocks that meet in front of the house and is working on restoring many of the buildings, so there's lots to see if you walk around the neighborhood.  Score!  You actually can take pictures there, but the NPS also has some good ones here.


The back parlor

The sitting room, where the family spent time together

Could I cook in that kitchen?

Our last stop was the Lincoln Library, right across the street from the museum.  The reading rooms are closed on the weekends, but they have some exhibit space in the main hall.  It was okay, but if you have to pick one, go to the museum.

Psych!  Did I say that was our last stop?  Since we didn't want to feel like we missed anything Lincoln-related, we drove north of town to Oak Ridge Cemetery where Lincoln's tomb is located.


Abraham and Mary Todd are buried here, as well as all of their sons except Robert, who's at Arlington.

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