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It was official! Abraham Lincoln and his dedicated cadre of eight other Illinois legislators had won the General Assembly's approval to move the state capitol from Vandalia to Springfield. these nine men were called the "Long Nine" because they averaged over 6 feet in height, uncommon in that day and age. On August 3, 1837, the upstairs at the building that stands now where it stood then at 200 S. Main Street in historic Athens, Illinois. |
| Internationally known artist Dr. Lloyd Ostendorf
painted a 6' by 9' scene depicting the seven of the "long nine" who attended
the 1837 banquet in Athens. That painting hangs on the west wall, inches
from where the scene depicted took place. it shows Lincoln toasting the
people of Athens, Illinois while thanking them for their help in bringing
the state capitol to Springfield. The room is furnished with tables, chairs
and accessories similar to those of that era. Shown below is a photograph of
the Ostendrof painting. Another original painting depicting New Salem in the early years was painted in 1952 by Chicago artist Joy Johnson Hodgen. measuring 6 1/2 ' by 16', this mural was the focal point of an area hardware store before finding a new home in the Long Nine Museum in 1973. |
