Highlights

Itinerary

Day 1 – Springfield, IL – Meet Abraham Lincoln

Arrive today in Springfield, IL for a two-night stay at a local hotel.  Dinner is included this evening at a local restaurant, and you will also get the chance to meet Abraham Lincoln himself! (D)

Day 2 – Abraham Lincoln Presidential Museum – Lincoln Home National Historic Site – Lincoln’s Tomb – Lincoln’s Ghost Walk

This morning, start with a visit to the Abraham Lincoln Presidential Museum. This state-of-the-art facility tells the entire life story of our nation’s 16th President.  Dedicated to the life and legacy of Abraham Lincoln, the Presidential Museum, unlike any other in the U.S., features hi-tech exhibits, interactive displays, and multimedia programs, as well as a reproduction of the White House as it looked in 1861.

Exhibits include an original hand-written copy of the Gettysburg Address, the evening gloves in President Lincoln’s pocket the night he was assassinated, and the quill pen used to sign the Emancipation Proclamation. You can also have their photos taken with life-size models of Abraham Lincoln as a boy and an adult, as well as with Mary Todd and the Lincoln children.

Next, visit the Lincoln Home National Historic Site. In 1861, Abraham Lincoln left his home of 17 years – the only home he ever owned – to serve as the 16th President of the United States. The Lincoln Home has been completely restored to its 1860 appearance and reveals much about Lincoln as husband, father, neighbor and politician. A variety of historic exhibits are located throughout the four-block neighborhood surrounding the Lincoln Home and can be viewed on a self-guided basis.

Following a break for lunch on own and some free time to explore the downtown area, visit the Lincoln Tomb.  Within the walls of this stunning granite monument is the final resting place of Abraham Lincoln, his wife, Mary and three of their four sons. (Lincoln’s oldest son, Robert, is buried in Arlington National Cemetery.)

Designed by famed sculptor, Larkin Mead, and completed in 1874, this beautiful landmark is nestled in Oak Ridge Cemetery.  At the entrance to the Tomb itself, there is a bronze bust of Mr. Lincoln where visitors from around the world have stopped to rub the nose of the statue for good luck.

Tonight, enjoy dinner at a local restaurant followed by a guided Lincoln’s Ghost Walk: Legend & Lore Tour. This lantern lit 5-block walking tour uses the Lincoln sites as the backdrop for strange and bizarre stories surrounding Lincoln’s life and his death! Learn about his final visit to his law office, his funeral in the old capitol, his Christian beliefs, you’ll also hear about Lincoln’s bizarre visions and dreams, Mary’s seances in the White House, Spiritualism, and skullduggery at the tomb site. (B,D)

Day 3 – Galena, IL – Free Time on Main Street – Ulysses S. Grant Home – Galena & U.S. Grant Museum

This morning, depart for Galena, IL, home to the 18^th President of the United States, Ulysses S. Grant. From his humble beginnings as a clerk in his family’s leather goods store to his rise as a Civil War hero and eventually the 18th President of the United States, Galena played an essential role in Ulysses S. Grant’s life.

Arrive today in time for lunch on your own on Main Street. Browse over 125 preserved 19th-century storefronts packed with local boutiques, wineries, antique shops, and amazing dining options.

This afternoon, visit the Ulysses S. Grant Home. On Aug. 18, 1865, Galena celebrated the return of its Civil War hero General Ulysses S. Grant. Following a jubilant procession with much flag waving and speeches, a group of Galena citizens presented the General with a handsomely furnished house on Bouthillier Street. It was opened to the public in 1904. Furnishings are original.

Then visit the Galena & U.S. Grant Museum. Housed in a historic Italianate mansion in Galena, the Galena & U.S. Grant Museum offers an in-depth look at the rich history of Galena and its most famous resident, Ulysses S. Grant. This engaging museum features a wide range of exhibits, artifacts, and stories that highlight the area’s lead mining era, Civil War connections, and local heritage.  One of the museum’s most notable highlights is the iconic Peace in Union painting, a powerful and detailed depiction of key Civil War figures that continues to captivate visitors.

Check into your Galena hotel for the night.  Dinner is included this evening at a local restaurant. (B,D)

Day 4 – Ronald Reagan Birthplace & Museum – Reagan Boyhood Home – Ronald Reagan Peace Park  – Chicago, IL

After breakfast, depart for Tampico, IL, the birthplace of Ronald Reagan, the 40^th President of the United States.  Visit the Reagan Birthplace and Museum. This quaint apartment, features the bedroom where the President was born, and has been restored and decorated to its original 1900s style. It sits on the second floor at the site of the First National Bank, which has also been restored. Next door is a gift store and museum of Reagan memorabilia.

Next, head to Dixon, IL to visit the Boyhood Home of Ronald Reagan.  Get a glimpse into the modest surroundings that shaped a young boy’s character—where hard work, faith, family, and community laid the foundation for a life of purpose. These humble beginnings instilled the values that guided Reagan throughout his life, from his early years in Dixon to his leadership on the world stage.

You will also visit the Ronald Reagan Peace Park. The Park displays a replica piece of the Historic Berlin Wall and a twenty-foot marble sculpture, “Wings of Peace and Freedom” donated to the City of Dixon by Bulgarian immigrant, Nick Tanev. The park also features murals depicting President Reagan’s “Tear Down This Wall” speech at the Brandenberg Gate in Berlin, the Kremlin, and the tearing down of the wall.

Continue travel to Chicago, IL where you enjoy a two-night stay on the south side of Chicago.  Tonight, dinner at a local restaurant. (B,D)

Day 5 – Obama’s Chicago Tour – Obama Presidential Center

After breakfast, meet your local guide for a personalized morning tour of Chicago, and the person we focus on is none other than Barack Obama, the 44th President of the United States.  He is inextricably linked to the City of Chicago. For more than 20 years he lived and worked on the city’s south side. This is where he met his wife Michelle, who grew up in the South Shore neighborhood.  On a guided tour of the Hyde Park neighborhood, you focus on Barack Obama’s life as a community organizer, professor, and resident. Key spots include his Kenwood home, the University of Chicago, Valois diner (one of Barrack’s favorites) and the all-new Obama Presidential Center site in Jackson Park.

Your afternoon will be spent at the new Obama Presidential Center.  This museum and library aims to inspire, empower, and connect people to bring change home. The 19.3-acre Center is located on Chicago side where President and Mrs. Obama began their journeys in public service.  It is an education project commemorating the accomplishments of the 44th president of the United States.

The Obama Presidential Center Museum explores the promise and power of democracy through the legacy of President and Mrs. Obama. Journey through four levels of dynamic exhibits that tell the story of the First Family and the social movements that made their work possible. Exhibits include memorabilia from the Obamas’ time in the White House, stories of iconic moments from the President’s administration, and interactive activities for visitors of all ages and abilities.

The Center also features over 20 art installations that encourage you to open your imaginations and reflect on their ability to bring change home.  Plus, see panoramic views from the Sky Room, the Museum’s culminating experience with unparalleled views of the places that made the Obamas. It is designed to be deeply contemplative and features iconic commissioned art installations by Idris Khan, Jenny Holzer and Carrie Mae Weems.

Dinner is included this evening at a local restaurant. (B,D)

Day 6 – Depart for Home

After breakfast, depart for home. (B)

Tour Map