Thursday (7/9)  This is our last day in Springfield, IL.   We spent the morning at the State Capitol. It was begun in 1868 and finished in 1877 at a cost of $4.5 million and we can see why.  It is perhaps the most ornate of all the capitols we have been in.  It has a painting of the indians and the early settlers painted right on a wall that is 20 ft wide by 50 ft high and is in excellent condition (see picture.)  There are many bronze statues and frescos of famous people and events in Illinois history.  The exterior has the look of a church rather than a government building and is in the shape of a Greek cross.  The inside is beautiful but the outside is in need of a good cleaning.

Our next stop was Lincoln's New Salem Historic Site in New Salem, IL.   This small town was started in 1828 and was deserted by 1840.  It is significant because Lincoln arrived there in 1831 and stayed six years. During that time he broke into politics and was elected to the Illinois legislature.   Lincoln had actually been a partner in a general store in the town (see picture.) Although the actual town is gone, they have one original building and have reconstructed the remaining buildings.   This is the town where Lincoln met Ann Rutledge who is suppose to be his first love.  She was engaged to someone else and Lincoln pined for her for a few years until her engagement was dissolved.  Before Lincoln really had a chance to develop a relationship with her she got sick and died.  They say he went into a deep depression after her death.

We had dinner in Petersburg near New Salem at a restaurant that was nothing more from the outside but a cinder block wall with a door in it - not much to look at.  If it has not been recommended to us, we never would have gone in.   Inside it was a very busy Italian restaurant and we had a great meal at a reasonable price.

We went back to New Salem in the evening for music and a play.   There was a pre-play music concert and then a play in the amphitheater.  The play was Forever This Land about how the town of New Salem was started and how one man, John Rutledge, struggled to keep it alive.  It also focused on Lincoln's role in the town.  It was amateur theater and there were about 30 actors who did a very nice job in putting this play on.   We really enjoyed it.