Search
- "First Court House of Logan County Where Abraham Lincoln Practiced Law, Lincoln, Ill.," 1927 Postcard - Between 1840 and 1847, Abraham Lincoln tried cases as a traveling lawyer in this courthouse when it was located in Postville (later Lincoln), Illinois. When the Logan County seat moved to Mt. Pulaski, this courthouse was reused as a general store, jail, post office, and private dwelling. Henry Ford purchased it in 1929 and brought it to Greenfield Village.
- 1927
- Collections - Artifact
"First Court House of Logan County Where Abraham Lincoln Practiced Law, Lincoln, Ill.," 1927 Postcard
Between 1840 and 1847, Abraham Lincoln tried cases as a traveling lawyer in this courthouse when it was located in Postville (later Lincoln), Illinois. When the Logan County seat moved to Mt. Pulaski, this courthouse was reused as a general store, jail, post office, and private dwelling. Henry Ford purchased it in 1929 and brought it to Greenfield Village.
- Postcard, The Ford Rotunda, Dearborn, Michigan, 1954 - After the Century of Progress Exposition ended in 1934, Ford Motor Company brought its central Rotunda building from that fair back to Dearborn. From 1936 to 1962, Ford recreated the excitement of a World's Fair exposition on its home turf. This postcard shows the Ford Rotunda as it looked in 1954.
- 1954
- Collections - Artifact
Postcard, The Ford Rotunda, Dearborn, Michigan, 1954
After the Century of Progress Exposition ended in 1934, Ford Motor Company brought its central Rotunda building from that fair back to Dearborn. From 1936 to 1962, Ford recreated the excitement of a World's Fair exposition on its home turf. This postcard shows the Ford Rotunda as it looked in 1954.
- Silver Swan Court Motel, Springfield, Ohio, 1940 - The Silver Swan Court provided 12 modern cabins with private showers to travelers along U.S. Highway 40 east of Springfield, Ohio. This 1940 postcard also gives a glimpse of a cabin's interior with an inset image on the right.
- 1940
- Collections - Artifact
Silver Swan Court Motel, Springfield, Ohio, 1940
The Silver Swan Court provided 12 modern cabins with private showers to travelers along U.S. Highway 40 east of Springfield, Ohio. This 1940 postcard also gives a glimpse of a cabin's interior with an inset image on the right.
- Postcard, La Siesta Court Motel, Winter Park, Florida, 1950 - Motel design often reflected regional architectural style. This 1950 postcard shows La Siesta Court in Winter Park, Florida. The Spanish Revival architecture evokes the early history of central Florida.
- 1950
- Collections - Artifact
Postcard, La Siesta Court Motel, Winter Park, Florida, 1950
Motel design often reflected regional architectural style. This 1950 postcard shows La Siesta Court in Winter Park, Florida. The Spanish Revival architecture evokes the early history of central Florida.
- "Covered Bridge, West Brattleboro, Vt., in the Green Mountains," July 1952 - Covered bridges were built across the United States throughout the 19th and into the early 20th centuries. Bridges provided important commercial and community connections, but constructing them required careful planning and a substantial investment of time, labor, and materials. Walls and a roof helped preserve these valuable structures by protecting the truss system and keeping structural timbers dry.
- July 22, 1952
- Collections - Artifact
"Covered Bridge, West Brattleboro, Vt., in the Green Mountains," July 1952
Covered bridges were built across the United States throughout the 19th and into the early 20th centuries. Bridges provided important commercial and community connections, but constructing them required careful planning and a substantial investment of time, labor, and materials. Walls and a roof helped preserve these valuable structures by protecting the truss system and keeping structural timbers dry.
- Postcard, "Albertson Public Library, Orlando, Fla., 'The City Beautiful'," 1938 - Until the 20th century, most book collections were not available to everyday Americans. They were either privately owned, accessible only by paid subscription, or stored away haphazardly. Free public libraries began to spread in the early 1900s. For communities able to fund them, public library buildings -- usually among the most imposing structures in town -- became sources of civic pride.
- 1938
- Collections - Artifact
Postcard, "Albertson Public Library, Orlando, Fla., 'The City Beautiful'," 1938
Until the 20th century, most book collections were not available to everyday Americans. They were either privately owned, accessible only by paid subscription, or stored away haphazardly. Free public libraries began to spread in the early 1900s. For communities able to fund them, public library buildings -- usually among the most imposing structures in town -- became sources of civic pride.
- High School, La Grange, Illinois, circa 1940 - Public high schools built in the late-19th and early-20th centuries not only provided education for children but also served the needs of the community. Besides classrooms, high schools usually included athletic facilities and auditoriums--spaces used by students and local citizens alike. High schools became a symbol of a community's progress and were proudly depicted on postcards sent to family and friends.
- circa 1940
- Collections - Artifact
High School, La Grange, Illinois, circa 1940
Public high schools built in the late-19th and early-20th centuries not only provided education for children but also served the needs of the community. Besides classrooms, high schools usually included athletic facilities and auditoriums--spaces used by students and local citizens alike. High schools became a symbol of a community's progress and were proudly depicted on postcards sent to family and friends.
- "The Old Log Court House Where Abraham Lincoln Practiced Law," Decatur, Illinois, 1943 Postcard - By the early 20th century, the real Abraham Lincoln had long since faded from people's memory. A new generation of Americans had come of age who only knew the stories, the myths, the legends. This generation transformed Lincoln the man into Lincoln the hero. Local residents of Decatur, Illinois, saved and preserved their old log courthouse where Lincoln once practiced law.
- 1943
- Collections - Artifact
"The Old Log Court House Where Abraham Lincoln Practiced Law," Decatur, Illinois, 1943 Postcard
By the early 20th century, the real Abraham Lincoln had long since faded from people's memory. A new generation of Americans had come of age who only knew the stories, the myths, the legends. This generation transformed Lincoln the man into Lincoln the hero. Local residents of Decatur, Illinois, saved and preserved their old log courthouse where Lincoln once practiced law.
- "Ford Theatre--Lincoln Museum, Washington, D.C.," 1935 Postcard - Abraham Lincoln was assassinated in Ford's Theatre in April 1865. In the fall, the U.S. government leased--and later purchased--the building after an attempt to reopen the theater failed. Over the next sixty-five years the building housed offices and became a warehouse. In 1931, a museum displaying Lincoln memorabilia was created. The theatre returned to its 1865 appearance in the 1960s after Congress appropriated funds for the building's restoration.
- 1935
- Collections - Artifact
"Ford Theatre--Lincoln Museum, Washington, D.C.," 1935 Postcard
Abraham Lincoln was assassinated in Ford's Theatre in April 1865. In the fall, the U.S. government leased--and later purchased--the building after an attempt to reopen the theater failed. Over the next sixty-five years the building housed offices and became a warehouse. In 1931, a museum displaying Lincoln memorabilia was created. The theatre returned to its 1865 appearance in the 1960s after Congress appropriated funds for the building's restoration.
- Swimming Pool at Holiday Inn of Daytona Beach, Florida, 1961 - The "glass wall" design, as seen in this postcard from Daytona Beach, Florida, gave early Holiday Inns a bright, modern appearance. Guests looked forward to swimming in the pool, standard at every location.
- 1961
- Collections - Artifact
Swimming Pool at Holiday Inn of Daytona Beach, Florida, 1961
The "glass wall" design, as seen in this postcard from Daytona Beach, Florida, gave early Holiday Inns a bright, modern appearance. Guests looked forward to swimming in the pool, standard at every location.