I mean, it's a tomb. Nice landscaping, nice bronze, I think the monument is a nice touch. Short…read morevisit. Knowledgeable staff.

We followed the signs getting off at the cemetery. We passed different war memorials before finding…read morea lot in front of Lincoln's grave. There were restrooms at the gravesite. Visiting Lincoln's Tomb was free. Pres Lincoln, Mary, & 3 of their sons' remains are here. The Lincoln Tomb was formally dedicated on October 15, 1874, 150-years ago. The Illinois Department of Natural Resources presents "Porch Talks" on the grounds of the Residence at the Lincoln Tomb providing :20 programs about lesser-known facts surrounding this monument. We drove into the cemetery, passing From 1865 to 1901, Lincoln's coffin was moved 17 times due to construction & fears for the safety of the president's remains. There was actually a plot in 1876 to steal his body and hold it for ransom. The coffin itself was opened on five separate occasions. Lincoln Cemetery is a 112 acre historically African American cemetery in Blue Island, with over 16,000 interments. Many famous black musicians, scientists, aviators, athletes ... are also here.

The state capital building is a fun place to visit. They have free tours daily that will take you…read moreto all 3 floors of this Renaissance Revival/ Second Empire style building. The 405 foot dome is regal to say the least. If you're there while the legislature is in session, you can watch from seats in the balcony. It's mostly all marble inside and has historic paintings and statues on every floor.

05/26/26 - Illinois State Capitol fitting review for a beautiful building (REVIEW 1,700). Today I…read morewent down to Springfield as part of a 10 bus 500 members group trying to start a union. By bringing these people just before the session convenes we're trying to get their attention & hopefully get something booked into legislation. As faith would have it we were in the William G Stratton building to talk to a few legislators prior to the meeting on 05/28/26 when they convene and vote. We were going to attempt to talk to a few when an alarm went off signifying a lockdown of the building. About 10 of us sheltered in place while security searched the building. Finally we were shuttled down the hall towards tunnel to the Capitol building. Unfortunately the alarm sounded around 11am and we had to shelter in place for about 1 hr while they searched the building. After the clearance was given we moved through an underground tunnel connecting the William G Stratton building to the Illinois State Capitol. By doing this we didn't need to leave the building & go through security again. When we came up out of the tunnel we were in the Illinois State Capitol Building. I've lived in Illinois almost my entire life. This was the first time I was ever in the Capitol Building. This is an impressive beautiful building w/a very ornate 3 story dome. When we came up to the third floor many of the 500 people that came up w/us from Chicago were milling around along w/other special interest groups trying to get the attention of the legislators before they entered the chambers. From what I understand they were voting on 05/28/2026 on a number of issues and these groups came hoping to win support for their groups The Capitol building is a very impressive structure w/a 3 story central dome that rises to 360 feet. Designed in the French Renaissance and Italianate styles, it was constructed between 1868 and 1888. I was very impressed by the attention to detail that was put into this magnificent structure. The attention to every detail in this central dome is amazing.

I love this community center and had such a great experience. I was planning a baby shower and was…read moreon the hunt for a large enough venue and would work within our budget. I contacted Kenny and he was great at answering my questions and working with me, as I was organizing this from out of state. We rented the multi-purpose room and the adjacent kitchen. The staff was wonderful at helping us set up the table and chairs, as well as the break down of them after the party. They provided us with trash cans to use during the party and collected it at the end. They were polite and flexible as our party ran a little longer than we expected! I appreciated that the restrooms were right outside of the multi-purpose room, clean and stocked. The staff member, who helped the day of the party, was available to us and a good communicator. Thank you! Also, I had control of the thermostats which was awesome, as we all know how the temperature fluctuates in the Midwest. Some considerations: 1.) You are not allowed to put any decorations on the walls. This was fine by me and helped simplify decoration choices. 2.) The kitchen had a refrigerator and stove but no coffee pot or dishes. They have a sink which made it easy to just wash what we used before packing it away. There's a contract you sign and a deposit you put down. Basically: be respectful of the space and keep it clean. If you change your plans, let them know ahead of time and you'll get the deposit back. This community center was a great choice for us and affordable! The shower was a great success, I highly recommend them!

Do the tour! The tour of the Carillon's is about 30 minutes and you learn about how they're played…read moreand how they came to be and how they're made. Then if you can stay or come back for the concert when they play, it's worth it. The concert is about another 30 minutes and sounds just wonderful. There are places to sit and relax and geese to feed too. The tour costs a nominal amount but listening to the Carillons is free.

Have you seen it? have you heard it? It's pretty amazing…read more... super tall, 32+? bells that one person plays! Hello? Awesome! Wednesdays in the summer take wander around the area and take a listen! I think it's pretty awesome. Now, if we could get rid of the bugs... Anyway - it's great! Go, enjoy!

The World War II Illinois Veterans Memorial is the most impressive of the War Memorials in Oak…read moreRidge Cemetery. Granite slabs flank a large white globe which detail battles in the European and Pacific Theaters. Almost 1 million Illinois residents served in the war. 22,000 died. Walk to see the chronology of the war. Bricks pave the walkway honoring those who fought and those who died in the war.

Everyone wants to go to Oak Ridge Cemetery to see Lincoln's Tomb, but there's more of course. It…read morealso has a few war memorials. World War II has a pretty nice one. Commemorates those from Illinois who died. There's some pretty cool structure. As for the war memorials, this one is the most impressive. It has this big white globe you notice immediately, quite the structure. There's also the names of the lost soldiers on a wall. Maybe it doesn't take much time to look at. This is nice just to reflect and admire it. For sure this gets overlooked but check it out while you're in this cemetery. It's pretty close to the other war memorials. Take a few minutes and walk around to see all of these.

Acts of Intolerance…read more Two charred chimneys rising from the smoldering rubble of burned-out buildings. These stark images from an old photograph were the inspiration for this unique sculpture. The sculpture commemorates the centennial of the brutal Springfield Race Riot of 1908. During the blistering heat over two days in August, an angry white mob attacked innocent black residents of Springfield. They looted and burned their homes and businesses after they heard that two black men, one accused of raping a white woman and the other of killing a white man, had been secretly transported out of town by the sheriff for their protection. In protest, white rioters lynched two innocent black men, murdered at least five more victims, and many, many more were injured. Homes and businesses destroyed. State militia and troopers were called to stop the violence. After the riot, Mabel Hallam admitted to lying about the rape to cover up an affair with a white lover. The second accused man, Joe James, was convicted by a jury for murder and executed. The news about the vicious race riot in Abraham Lincoln's hometown shocked the country. The riot, trials and aftermath demonstrated and highlighted the complex intersection of race, class, and criminal justice in the United States. This event became a catalyst for the founding of the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People (NAACP) which was established in New York City on February 12, 1909, the centennial of Lincoln's birthday. The numerous relief images on the surface of the chimney columns depict scenes that suggest themes of intolerance and themes of redemption. It is a stark reminder of how intolerance and prejudices can affect and impact all of us. Definitely worth a visit to reflect on the past, the present and the future.

A Greater Task "Why…read moreshould there not be a patient confidence in the ultimate justice of the people? Is there any better or equal hope in the world?" Abraham Lincoln, First Inaugural Address Located in a small park across the street from the Lincoln Presidential Library and Museum, this statue highlights the burden and complexities that Lincoln faced as he began his journey to Washington and became a wartime president. Visit this and the nearby Acts of Intolerance Sculpture to reflect on the past, the present and the future.

The Purple Heart Memorial is located in the War Memorials section of the Oak Ridge Cemetery. It is…read morea smaller Memorial than the other memorials, which include a WWI, WWII, Korean War and Vietnam War Memorials. The memorial features an engraved Purple Heart on black granite. It is worth a quick stop when visiting the cemetery.