Visit important Illinois sites from President Obama’s campaign

As the field of Republican presidential candidates continues to narrow, voters will soon have a clear sense of who will be running against President Barack Obama in the fall. Until then, social studies teachers who want to focus on the 2012 election and organize educational tours around the event can focus on the current commander-in-chief.

Since Obama served as a member of the Illinois Senate, teachers may want to consider taking their students to a few educational travel destinations that played a role in the lead up to Obama’s presidency.

For instance, school tours can visit Springfield’s Old State Capitol State Historic Site, where both Obama and former President Abraham Lincoln announced their runs for the White House. In front of this structure, which was built in 1837, Obama also introduced the world to his vice-presidential candidate, Joe Biden.

After seeing where Obama launched his campaign, students can see where it ended – Chicago’s Grant Park. Here, in this 319-acre public space, Obama delivered his historic victory speech in front of hundreds of thousands of supporters, and many more around the world via television and the internet.