Lincoln wall portrait, Abraham Lincoln Presidential Library & Museum

In the rotunda (plaza) of the Abraham Lincoln Presidential Library & Museum, the figures of the Lincoln family are located in the center. Around the perimeter of the plaza are the various exhibits, the Museum store, and the Cafe’-to name a few of the surrounding areas. My favorite exhibit is the “Ghosts of the Library.” It uses state-of-the-art technology in it’s presentation that is stunning. No photographs are allowed in any of the exhibits, by the way, except in the plaza and in the exhibit “Mrs. Lincoln’s Attic.”  

B. Nash with Generals McClellan & Grant

After visiting with Sojourner Truth and Frederick Douglass, I slid over to General McClellan and Grant as they were having a conversation. I don’t know if they actually ever met during the war years- did they? General McClellan looks arrogant and proud. He was a great organizer and drill master. His troops loved him. Lincoln was so frustrated with his lack of fighting that he eventually replaced him. McClellan wrote very unkind things about Lincoln in letters to his wife. He later ran against Lincoln in the 1864 Presidential race as a  ”peace Democrat” and lost.

General Grant was in many ways the exact opposite of McClellan. He once presented to a hotel for accomodations and was told there were none to be had. The hotel clerk did not realize that he was turning away U.S. Grant. Grant didn’t “parade” his status. He hated the limelight. One thing he was for sure-a fighter. He received considerable criticism for being a “butcher.” His losses in men during battles were staggering. Lincoln had been pressured to relieve Grant. Lincoln stated he couldn’t because Grant fights. Unlike McClellan too, he won Presidency when he ran (after the war). Well, it was good sharing a word or two with the Generals.

Lincoln head by Gutzon Borglum

Finally, I came across a familiar sculpture and had to stop. There was the “Lincoln head” by Gutzon Borglum.  I didn’t know it was featured in the museum, so it was a nice surprise. I took note of it and remembered that I would be visiting the Lincoln tomb shortly and see the Borglum piece again. The sculpture has been very much a part of the “Lincoln story” over the years-and to think that Mr. Borglum originally created the work just for the fun of it! Oh, that our hobbies should produce such masterpieces!

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