In honor of Abraham Lincoln’s 201st birthday today, here are some awesome Lincoln-inspired roadside attractions in Illinois to check out:
(click each photo to learn more about the silly Abraham Lincoln site!)
Posts Tagged ‘Lincoln’
Happy Birthday Abraham Lincoln!
Posted by Val on February 12th, 2010 at 1:26 pm | Permalink | No Comments » |
Happy Birthday Abraham Lincoln! | No Comments » |
Video Log – Road Trip to Metropolis, IL
Posted by Val on May 15th, 2009 at 12:47 pm | Permalink | 1 Comment » |
And now it’s time for an extra special treat to wrap up the recap of my Metropolis road trip!
Here’s a video I put together with some clips from the road! I saw the I-57 Abraham Lincoln, the World’s Largest Cross in Effingham, the Super Museum, Superman Statue, and Americana Hollywood Museum in Metropolis. And, of course, I saw an ice cream eating contest! And since we were so close to the border, we just had to cross into Kentucky and back!
>>Watch this video on YouTube.
FYI: It’s kind of dangerous to take video while you drive. Kids, don’t try this at home.
FYI2: It is really hard to take photos (which will always be my #1), update twitter, AND shoot video at the same time. But that doesn’t mean I won’t keep trying until my technique is perfected!
Video Log – Road Trip to Metropolis, IL | 1 Comment » |
The Elusive I-57 Lincoln
Posted by Val on May 15th, 2009 at 8:55 am | Permalink | No Comments » |
On I-57 when you reach Kankakee/Bourbonnais, Illinois you might see a familiar face. A giant statue of Abraham Lincoln stands amongst construction lifts at Alexander Equipment Rental Inc. While he is not the largest in Illinois he very well might be the most prominent, as thousands of drivers drive by on the highway every day.
I’ve now passed by this giant Lincoln statue a dozen or so times but have yet to have the opportunity to stop and get a good photo. But oh do I try to capture him on “film” whenever I pass by…
>>Watch this video on YouTube.
Site: Giant Abraham Lincoln Statue
Location: Alexander Equipment Rental, Inc., 1511 Commerce Drive, Bourbonnais, IL 60914 (Visible on I-57 near exits for Kankakee/Bourbonnais)
Cost: Free to see.
Hours: Always visible.
Date: June 19,2008/June 19,2008/May 9, 2009
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Lincoln Memorial
Posted by Val on February 26th, 2009 at 5:57 am | Permalink | No Comments » |
I’m off to Washington D.C. for the weekend!
I’ll try to squeeze in a bit of tourism, but I’m mostly going for a wedding, so I probably won’t get a chance to see much.
Since I’ve been to D.C. twice before, I’ll share with you one of the sites from my last trip back in 2006…
THE LINCOLN MEMORIAL
The Lincoln Memorial was dedicated in 1922 to honor our 16th president, Abraham Lincoln — the Great Emancipator and preserver of the nation during the Civil War.
And who can resist a giant presidential statue? Now I my friends, not I.
Site: Lincoln Memorial National Memorial
Location: Independence Ave SW & 23rd St SW, Washington, DC 20001
Cost: Free to see.
Hours: Open to the public 24 hours a day
Date: August 25, 2006
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Lincoln Watermelon Monument
Posted by Val on February 27th, 2008 at 9:37 pm | Permalink | No Comments » |
I have a confession to make.
I have licked a public watermelon.
Yes, it’s true. I went to take a picture with the watermelon, stuck out my tongue to “pretend” to be eating it, and accidentally licked it. It tasted metallic. Lesson learned: I would highly recommend against licking any of the silly sites I describe here.
Unless, I suppose, it’s something like the world’s largest lollipop.
***
I am leaving this month of Abraham Lincoln monuments with one of the most bizarre memorials I have ever come across: the Lincoln Watermelon Monument.
Yes, my silly American friends, it is a pink and green slice of watermelon dedicated to our sixteenth president and the christening of Lincoln, Illinois. That’s it.
As the story goes, on August 27, 1853 the first sale of lots in the new town of Lincoln took place near where the watermelon monument now stands. Abraham Lincoln, in whose honor the town had been named, was present and was asked to officially christen the town. He chose a watermelon from a nearby pile, cut into it with his pocketknife, and then bumped it on a pile of lumber. He squeezed the juice into a tin cup, gave a brief speech, and christened the town.
In celebration of that fateful day, the town constructed this monument in the shape of a slice of watermelon. Definitely one of the weirdest sites I’ve seen and it certainly would be the highlight of any road trip through Illinois. Just remember, as yummy as it looks, try not to lick it.
Your Silly American Adventurer after accidentally licking the watermelon.
Site: Lincoln Watermelon Monument
Location: Broadway and Chicago, Lincoln, IL
Cost: Free to see.
Hours: Always visible.
Date: July 15, 2007
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