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We immortalise him in plaster but today on the anniversary of his death we celebrate the life of Lincoln.

The Lincoln Memorial stares out to the Capitol and the Washington Monument in the nation’s capital.

And is one of the world’s great statues and the site of another of the most defining times in American history.

When Martin Luther delivered his I Have A Dream speech before 250,000 people around the Reflecting Pool.

Belong to the angels

We mark today when he died as we did yesterday when John Wilkes Booth shot him in Ford’s Theatre.

It was at 7.22am on April 15, 1865 that the 16th US President, the one who saved the union for those Commanders In Chief after him, was declared dead.

And Secretary of War Edward Stanton pronounced that he now ‘belonged to the ages’ or ‘angels’.

Before he belonged to America, the world and the angels Abraham Lincoln belonged to Springfield, Illinois.

From Kentucky to Illinois

A dirt-poor cabin on Sinking Spring Farm near Hosgenville, Kentucky and Indiana before that.

Twas Illinois though where Lincoln graduated to become a lawyer and politician.

And where he laid down roots for 17 years with socialite Mary Todd and where they set up home.

Which you can see with your own eyes and we will explore the possibility of visiting.

When we attend the American Travel Fair in Chicago, a three-hour drive south, in June.

On the corner of Eighth and Jackson Streets, visitors will get a glimpse into Lincoln’s life.

As well as a family man and explore his rise to prominence.

The House of Lincoln

Admission to tour the house is free but tickets are issued on a first-come, first-served basis.

Each tour is limited to 15 individuals.

Pick up a ticket inside the Lincoln Home Visitor Center for the 20-25 minute tour.

Lincoln is, of course, universal and the Visitor Center has thrown its doors open to the four corners of the world.

Your virtual Lincoln

Through a collabration with Google Arts and Culture, it is now possible to take a virtual tour through the Lincoln Home.

Videos of a tour through the Lincoln Home are also available on the Lincoln Home National Historic Site YouTube account.

Springfield is too the last resting place for Lincoln and you can pay homage at the Lincoln Tomb.

At the end of the 1,654-mile Lincoln Train journey from DC across the States, which set out on the April 21 of that year.

Lincoln is all around us

In fact Lincoln is ubiquitous in Springfield.

And you can check out the Lincoln Rail Splitter Statue, the Presidential Library and Museum, the New Salem State Historical Site, the Lincoln Pew and the Long Nine Museum and Lincoln Depot.

Which of course the visitspringfield site is all over it.

And which we’ll return to again next week as we celebrate the life of Lincoln and his legacy.

Fifty years after the release of the scariest film of them all it’s worth a revisit to Georgetown, Washington DC to reveal three generations of The Exorcist in Maryland.

The movie of William Peter Blatty’s masterpiece turned heads and forced priests to flee picture houses when it was released in 1973.

Fans of the movie know of course that the action is set in Georgetown.

And that the stairs where Fr Damien Karras, possessed by Regan and the Devil, hurls himself out of the window, has become a movie buff’s must-visit.

And one site alas I didn’t get to on my ramble around the nation’s capital…

Probably still spooked by the revolving Regan.

By Georgetown

Capitol idea: On the hill in Washington DC

Georgetown, of course, well worthy of your time in DC.

Once you’ve done Ford’s Theatre, the National Mall, the Lincoln Memorial, the Capitol, and all the Smithsonians.

You’ll probably be deadbeat but try to save some energy.

For the 75 steps between M Street and Prospect Street

And while in the neighbourhood check out the oldest house in the district.

Built in 1765, the Old Stone House is the oldest standing building in DC.

A simple, 18th century structure, the outside of the house was made with local blue granite.

And it is reputed to have been used as George Washington’s engineering headquarters.

While those who are still interested in exploring American and modern world history (me, every time) then Dumbarton Oaks will be on your list.

It was here that the historic meeting of world leaders took place in 1944.

When they gathered to draw up the United Nations charter.

Dead interesting

Zion mighty: Mount Zion Cemetery in Georgetown

This being Washington the dead vie with the living for pride of place.

With, of course, Arlington Cemetery on every visitors’ itinerary.

Which, of course, the Mount Zion Cemetery, overlooking Rock Creek Park in Georgetown, should be.

This historic cemetery dates back to 1808.

And is one of the city’s oldest all-black burial sites – once reserved for the burial of free blacks.

While just a few blocks away Oak Hill Cemetery should also be on your list.

Abraham Lincoln’s son, Willie, was originally buried here until being re-interred with his father in Illinois.

While other luminaries here included Edwin Stanton, Lincoln’s secretary of war, Dean Acheson and Harry S Truman’s secretary of state.

And Philip and Katherine Graham, publishers of the Washington Post.

The real Regan

For you though the sight of Fr Karras’s demise on the Exorcist Steps may be the memorial you most want to visit.

The story of Regan MacNeil owes its origins to the real-life story of Robbie or Roland Doe from 1949.

Thought to be Ronald Hunkeler, who died only three years ago.

In his home town of Marriottsville in Maryland.

The appeal of The Exorcist endures to this day and a 50th anniversary sequel of the movie is coming out in October.

And it will be the first of three follow-ups in the franchise.

The father of a possessed child, desperate for help goes in search of someone who has had similar experiences.

And that’ll be Chris MacNeil, played again by Ellen Burstyn.

So that’s three generations of The Exorcist in Maryland covered.

Just be careful on those steps in Georgetown.

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Celebrate the life of Lincoln