Summit Rest Area, aka Lincoln Rest Area, Wyoming

 The Summit Rest Area includes the Lincoln monument commemorating the highest point on the Lincoln Highway.  The monument was sculpted by Robert I Russin.  The rest area also has a great deal of information about other attractions in Wyoming as well as close to the rest area.  A plaque for the first phone conversation through a canyon.  There is also a plaque for George A. Wyman, first bike ride across America and a Purple Heart Highway Trail.  The rest area is accessed from both directions of travel on I80.

Illinois State Capital Building in Springfield, Ill

 The State Capital building currently in use was completed in 1877.  The state had outgrown the old capital building.  It has a 405 foot dome.  Abraham Lincoln is out front even though he passed away before the building was completed.

the dome

Route 66: Largest Covered Wagon in the World

 Lincoln, Illinois hosts the largest covered wagon in the world.  It is called Rail Splitter.  It is along route 66.  It is not historic as it was placed here in 2007.  It was built by David Bentley in 2001.  Abraham Lincoln sits in the driver's seat reading a book.  Sheri really liked that aspect.

Route 66, Illinois State Fairgrounds, Abe Lincoln Statue, Springfield, Ill

 We followed route 66 through Springfield Illinois past the State Fairgrounds, which has a unique statue of Abraham Lincoln.  It also had people on carriages practices their horse racing.  The fair wasn't in session but it would have been a big deal.

Movie Night: ****^ Young Mr. Lincoln

This is a 1939 black and white movie available through instant Netflix.  It is directed by John Ford and Henry Fonda plays M. Lincoln.  This is not the way you would expect a Lincoln movie to go.  Instead this movie touches Lincoln as a man, a fallible, sometimes humorous, melancholy man.  He is truly an enigma.  There are those scenes where he can control a crowd with his wit and humor an courage; then there are those times when he talks down about himself.  This movie is truly a masterpiece.  Henry Fonda does a superb job.  I learned things about Abraham Lincoln I didn't know.  He likely had a love when he was young, who succumbed to typhoid.  He was melancholy, and subject to bouts of depression.  This movie also presents Lincoln as a lawyer, and it was as spellbinding as Perry Mason.  I recommend this movie.  Here is a longer review of this comparing it to another Lincoln movie.
http://www.criticsatlarge.ca/2012/11/abraham-lincoln-myth-and-man.html

Movie Night: ****Lincoln (2012)

This movie is in theaters now.  It is directed by Stephen Spielberg and stars Daniel Day-Lewis and Sally Field as the president and his wife.  This movie is a historical presentation of the thirteenth amendment and the difficulty with getting it passed, and President Lincoln's desire to get it passed during the lame-duck congress, after the Democrats had been defeated in the house.  He did not want to wait for the new congress to be seated, for if the war should conclude he might lose the people's motivation to pass the amendment; that in passing it might quicken the end of the war. 
The movie does not present the early parts of the war, in fact Lee and Grant are already facing each other at Petersburg, and Lincoln has won reelection, in the same election that swept many Democrats out of congress.
The passing of the thirteenth amendment was not easy as the movie portrays, and the movie shows the political moves, and promises Lincoln pulled out to official abolish slavery in the United States.  Political victory would require 20 votes from across the aisle, while not losing any votes from the Republican Party. 
The witticisms of Abraham Lincoln made for an enjoyable part of the movie, and I remember thinking during the movie, I wish I had written that down.  Also his humorous stories kept the movie light, because the movie was heavy. 
This movie was not a biography of Lincoln, nor was it a history of the civil war.  It had very little of the actual action, other than some Africa Americans telling their story, and showing the result of battle.  The Gettysburg Address is recited at the beginning of the move, and towards the end we see works from Lincoln's second inaugaration. 
The movie also does a very good job of portraying the son's of Mary and Abraham Lincoln.  Robert, his oldest who wants to be in uniform rather than at school.  He finally gets his wish, being placed on Grant's staff.  Tad, his youngest is dealing with the death of the middle brother, Willie.  He views lithographs of slaves, and is very much interested in the freedom of the slaves.
The other actors do a very good job.  You would think a movie spending much of its time showing congress would be boring.  In this case it was not, because the story took place in congress, and the manipulations, name calling, and in some cases restraining of one's opinions to get the ammendment passed, were fascinating. Tommy Lee Jones as Representative Stephens from Ohio was terrific.
A very enjoyable movie.