Day 80 The Ultimate USA road trip West Baden Springs Springfield
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RouteXpert René Plücken (MRA Master)
Last edit: 16-10-2023
Route Summary I have further supplemented the Road Trip with even more special points that you can visit in the USA. Today we drive from West Baden Springs, Indiana to Springfield, Illinois, the city of Abraham Lincoln. It is a long drive of almost 425 kilometers, with a number of beautiful stops.
We drive on beautiful provincial roads, such as the “Indiana's historic pathway - South Spur”, we drive along rivers, through a beautiful green, hilly Indiana. Sometimes we have to drive a bit of highway. Stops at museums are possible and a number of beautiful photo stops are planned, I rate this route 4 stars.
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Animation
Verdict
Duration
9h 47m
Mode of travel
Car or motorcycle
Distance
423.33 km
Countries
RouteXpert Review Enjoy the first 60 kilometers of the ride on “Indiana's Historic Pathway South Spur”, this Scenic Byway winds through the landscape of Southern Indiana and offers you beautiful views of the hills and farmlands. This is one of two Indiana's Historic Pathways, they were declared a National Scenic Byways on October 16, 2009.
After the town of South Washington we leave the “Indiana's Historic Pathway South Spur” and take a country road to the “Max G. Ramsey Memorial Bridge”, also known as the “County Bridge No. 45”. This is a historic Pratt Through Truss Bridge in Washington Township, Daviess County, Indiana. The bridge was built by the Indiana Bridge Company in 1903 and carries County Road 150N over the White River into Knox County, Indiana. The bridge consists of three 140-foot-long spans on concrete abutments, for a total length of 422 feet. The bridge was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 2006. Definitely worth stopping here to take a few photos.
After about 20 miles of driving we arrive at the first stop in historic Vincennes, where we visit the Indiana Military Museum. The museum is dedicated to promoting the memory, understanding and appreciation of American military history by preserving and displaying artifacts that represent the strength and freedom of America's heritage. It offers one of the nation's finest, most comprehensive collections of military memorabilia, including military vehicles, aircraft, uniforms, insignia and equipment from the American Revolution to the present.
We cross the Wabash River, which is also the state border between Indiana and Illinois, and drive via the town of Lawrenceville to the town of Olney, where we stop for lunch. There are several restaurants and bars on Main Street that serve a good meal.
We drive northwest toward Springfield, south of town is a legendary section of Route 66 listed on the National Register of Historic Places; “The Illinois Brick Road”. This beautiful 2.3 kilometer long restored stretch of Route 66 is a hand-built stone paver road. It was completed in 1931 and sits over a concrete road surface. Don't miss this excellent photo stop during your drive along the “Mother Road”.
Via the Route 66 Drive In Theater, where we stop briefly to take a photo of the Bill Board, we drive into Springfield, where we visit the former home of Abraham Lincoln. Now a museum, the Liconl House offers tours that give visitors a glimpse into the Lincoln family during the seventeen years they lived in the house on the corner of Eighth and Jackson Streets. Visitors will get a glimpse into Lincoln's life as a family man and explore his rise as a successful lawyer and politician in the context of the Lincoln Home.
Today, the Lincolns' home attracts hundreds of thousands of visitors every year. Admission to a house tour is free, but tickets are issued on a first-come, first-served basis and often fill up quickly. Each tour is limited to 15 people. Pick up a ticket at the Lincoln Home Visitor Center for the 20-25 minute tour of the house. The first tour of the day starts at 9:00 AM and the last tour starts at 4:30 PM. Highlights of the tour include: The formal parlor, the waiting room, the dining room, the guest room, Abraham Lincoln's bedroom, Mary Lincoln's bedroom, the boys' room, the maid's room, and the kitchen.
Opening hours may be extended during the summer. This review includes a link to the page with more information and opening hours during the different seasons.
The “Abraham Lincoln Presidential Museum” is nearby. Here you can experience history like never before. Step inside key moments in Lincoln's life, from triumph to tragedy. Discover immersive displays and shows that highlight the human cost of slavery and war. Connect with Lincoln and his family through artifacts found nowhere else in the world. You'll feel like you're walking in Lincoln's shoes.
Springfield Illinois has some beautiful historic sights and planning an extra day is definitely recommended if you are interested.
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Preferably use the route track in your navigation system. More information about the use of MyRoute-app can be found on the website under 'Community' or 'Academy'.
Changes may nevertheless have occurred due to changed circumstances, road diversions or seasonal closures. We therefore recommend checking each route before use.
Preferably use the route track in your navigation system. More information about the use of MyRoute-app can be found on the website under 'Community' or 'Academy'.
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Indiana
About this region
Indiana is a U.S. state in the Midwestern United States. It is the 38th-largest by area and the 17th-most populous of the 50 United States. Its capital and largest city is Indianapolis. Indiana was admitted to the United States as the 19th state on December 11, 1816. It is bordered by Lake Michigan to the northwest, Michigan to the north, Ohio to the east, the Ohio River and Kentucky to the south and southeast, and the Wabash River and Illinois to the west.
Various indigenous peoples inhabited Indiana for thousands of years, some of whom the U.S. government expelled between 1800 and 1836. Indiana received its name because the state was largely possessed by native tribes even after it was granted statehood. Since then, settlement patterns in Indiana have reflected regional cultural segmentation present in the Eastern United States; the state's northernmost tier was settled primarily by people from New England and New York, Central Indiana by migrants from the Mid-Atlantic states and adjacent Ohio, and Southern Indiana by settlers from the Upland South, particularly Kentucky and Tennessee.Indiana has a diverse economy with a gross state product of $377.1 billion in 2019. It has several metropolitan areas with populations greater than 100,000 and a number of smaller cities and towns. Indiana is home to professional sports teams, including the NFL's Indianapolis Colts and the NBA's Indiana Pacers, and hosts several notable competitive events, including the Indianapolis 500.
Read more on Wikipedia
Various indigenous peoples inhabited Indiana for thousands of years, some of whom the U.S. government expelled between 1800 and 1836. Indiana received its name because the state was largely possessed by native tribes even after it was granted statehood. Since then, settlement patterns in Indiana have reflected regional cultural segmentation present in the Eastern United States; the state's northernmost tier was settled primarily by people from New England and New York, Central Indiana by migrants from the Mid-Atlantic states and adjacent Ohio, and Southern Indiana by settlers from the Upland South, particularly Kentucky and Tennessee.Indiana has a diverse economy with a gross state product of $377.1 billion in 2019. It has several metropolitan areas with populations greater than 100,000 and a number of smaller cities and towns. Indiana is home to professional sports teams, including the NFL's Indianapolis Colts and the NBA's Indiana Pacers, and hosts several notable competitive events, including the Indianapolis 500.
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Route Collections in this region Ultimate USA road trip 08
Michel van Hagen challenged me to follow the Roadtrip of Dr. Randy Olsen as a basis to create the Ultimate USA Road Trip for the MyRoute app RouteXpert Library. I took up that challenge and started in February 2022.
The scientist Dr. Randy Olsen, who became known for using his knowledge of algorithms to find 'Waldo' in the well-known American 'Where's Waldo' book series, has been challenged by Tracy Staedter, from Discovery News, to use the same algorithm to create the perfect Road Trip by creating the US, which will visit almost every state in the US. Alaska and Hawaii are not included in this Road Trip due to their geographical location.
The following three requirements formed the basis of the route: In all 48 countries there must be at least one stop at famous points, monuments, historical sites, national parks, etc. I have added additional interesting points, beautiful tours and routes.
After more than 26 months, the job is finished and, with a lot of support from Nick Carthew, I have created 129 routes that run through the 48 states of the USA and part of Canada. This is the eighth collection that takes you from Mackinaw City in ten days through Michigan, Wisconsin, Illinois, Indiana, Ohio, Kentucky, Tennessee to Springfield, Illinois.
The scientist Dr. Randy Olsen, who became known for using his knowledge of algorithms to find 'Waldo' in the well-known American 'Where's Waldo' book series, has been challenged by Tracy Staedter, from Discovery News, to use the same algorithm to create the perfect Road Trip by creating the US, which will visit almost every state in the US. Alaska and Hawaii are not included in this Road Trip due to their geographical location.
The following three requirements formed the basis of the route: In all 48 countries there must be at least one stop at famous points, monuments, historical sites, national parks, etc. I have added additional interesting points, beautiful tours and routes.
After more than 26 months, the job is finished and, with a lot of support from Nick Carthew, I have created 129 routes that run through the 48 states of the USA and part of Canada. This is the eighth collection that takes you from Mackinaw City in ten days through Michigan, Wisconsin, Illinois, Indiana, Ohio, Kentucky, Tennessee to Springfield, Illinois.
View Route Collection