Two State's Views of Lincoln Memorial Bridge
by deecat
As we were driving from Robinson, Illinois, on Route 33, we stopped just before the Lincoln Memorial Bridge that leads to Vincennes, Indiana.
On the Illinois side of the bridge, there is The Lincoln Monument. This monument was erected in 1938 by Illinois Organization, Daughters of the American Revolution to commemorate the arrival of the Lincoln family to Illinois from Indiana.
Engraved on the monument were these words:
In the late Winter of 1830, a few weeks after his 21st birthday, Abraham Lincoln passed this way with his father's family, entering the State of Illinois for the 1st time.
Daughters of the American Revolution
June 14, 1938
It is a beautiful monument that is pictured in Photo #1. On the monument is a Plague that reads:
50th anniversary
Lovingly RESTORED for the
People of Illinois
And Rededicated by the
Illinois State Organization NSDAR
October 8, 1988 Mrs. Ronald L. Mordhorst
State Regent
The Photo #2 pictures the sign indicating this Lincoln Monument.
The Photo #3 is a photo of the Lincoln Memorial Bridge from the Vincennes, Indiana Side. On the two tall columns, two Native American figures, Tecumseh & his brother, the Prophet, guard the eastern entrance to the bridge.
Note: From my point of view, I think that the state of Indiana keeps the area around the beautiful bridge in much better condition. Even though the Illinois side has the marvelous Lincoln Monument, the area around it is not very attractive, and it is not a good location for taking photographs of the bridge.
Photo #4 is the inscription found on the column of the bridge on the Indiana side. It states:
The site of Fort Sackville captured from the British by George Rogers Clark and his heroic comrades, February 24, 1779.
To arrive in Indiana OVER THE WABASH RIVER from Illinois, we could either take Route 33 and go over The Lincoln Memorial to Vincennes or go to Hutsonville, Illinois and take the bridge over the Wabash to Terre Haute, Indiana. I'll say that the Lincoln Memorial Bridge is by far the most beautiful.
Old French House & Indian Museum
by deecat
I was so happy when I saw in the literature about Vincennes that there was an Old French House & Indian Museum. On another trip that I made to Missouri, I had toured a French House and found it fascinating. With that in mind, my sister and I went looking for it.
The Old French House and Indian Museum is located at the corner of First Street and Seminary Street.
A French fur trader and Indian interpreter, Michel Brouillet, built this home about 1808, and it is an excellent example of French Creole architecture. This small cottage uses "poteaux sur sole [posts on sill] construction. This architecture uses fourteen-foot upright posts, spaced about a foot and a half apart and fitted into a horizontal beam [sill]. The posts are capped by another horizontal beam [plate.]" Also, the walls are insulated with a mixture of mud and prairie grass daubed over wooden stakes jammed between the posts at six-inch intervals.
This home is partitioned into two small rooms and a living room [centered around a large hearth]. It also has a double chimney with a fireplace in the living room for winter cooking/heat and another fireplace facing into the lean-to summer kitchen for summer cooking.
Photo #1: The outside of the Old French House
Photo #3: The back side of the house with the lean-to summer kitchen
The Indian Museum is located in a structure in the backyard. This is appropriate because Michel Brouillet was an Indian trader and interpreter. Artifacts from all four periods of local Indian prehistory are represented. There are mastodon bones found near Vincennes.
Photo #2 pictures the outside of the Indian Museum..
This home is owned by a non-profit corporation: The Old Northwest Corporation.
The admission Fee: $2.00 adults
$1.00 students
It's a great tour for such a small amount of money.
Knox County Courthouse
by deecat
When traveling around the USA, I love to see Courthouses. So, I was pleased to see the the Knox County Courthouse I tried to discover as much about this structure as possible. Well, it was impossible for me to find anything. It's as though it didn't ever exist!
I do know that the Soldiers' Monument is located in front of this mammoth structure. See Photos # 2,3 and 4. I did find that this was not the first courthouse. The Old Courthouse is now an American Legion Home.
Many cities in Indiana have Soldier and Sailor Monuments concerning the Civil War; Vincennes is no exception. This monument is called the Soldier's Monument and was done by artist Schwartz [who did several such monuments in Indiana]. The purpose the the monument was to commemorate the soldiers who served in the Civil War and helped to preserve the Union. It was dedicated in 1914.
The final photograph is of a cornerstone that is dated June 24, 1873.
I'm very surprised that information about this attractive courthouse is not available.
Red Skelton Performing Arts Center Tour
by deecat
Both my sister Ronda and I are devoted Red Skelton fans. So, when we had the opportunity to take a tour of the new Red Skleton Performing Arts Center, we were thrilled.
Richard Bernard "Red" Skelton was born in Vincennes, and his rbirth home is located at 111 Lyndale The Performing Arts Center is located just one block from his birthplace!.
FREE tours of this $17 million dollar Performing Arts Center are given three times weekly:
*Mondays and Fridays at 2:00 pm
Wednesdays at 10:00 am
The tour lasts about thirty minutes. It includes the theatre, the backstage areas, and the classrooms.
My photographs show the following:
#1: Bust of Red Skelton in the massive lobby of the Performing Arts Center.
#2: Halls of the lobby are filled with photographs of all the famous characters that Red Skelton created during his stage and television shows.
#3: Our Student Guide showing us the beautiful auditorium.
#4: Behind the Scenes: the performer's dressing room.
#5: The outside view of the Red Skelton Performing Arts Center.
I think that the engraving on a plaque in the center beside the Red Skelton statue summarizes why Red Skelton was so beloved and so successful:
Richard "Red" Skelton was born July 18, 1913 one block from this site at 111 West Lyndale. Through his amazing creative talent, Red Skelton became an international star of theater, radio, movies and television. He was also a highly regarded author, artist, composer, humanitarian, and patriot. This Performing Arts Center is dedicated in Red Skelton's honor and memory and as a lasting tribute to "ONE OF AMERICA"S CLOWNS." This plaque and statue were donated by The McCormick Family Foundation.
Ronda and I were very pleased and happy that we were able to see how our favorite comedian is being remembered.
HISTORICAL VINCENNES
by miner
From earliest times the Wabash River was a route between north and south. Here at a fording place it was crossed by a buffalo trace an ancient path worn by countless animals and Aborigenes in their migration between east and west. Here in historic times Indians dwelt and traveled both land and water routes, French explorers and missionaries followed.Early in the 18'th century Vincennes was established, the oldest settlement in the region.
From France England won this region. In the war of the Revolution the British commander of the Northwest came down the Wabash River making Fort Sackville at the crossing of the ways, the key to the frontier.George Rogers Clark follwed the BuffaloTrace from Kaskaskia toward Vincennes and captured Fort Sackville
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Vincennes Mural
A Film of George Rogers Clark's Adventure
War Memorial in Front of Knox Co. Courthouse
Charlie's Caramel Corn & Candy Shop, Vincennes, IN
