20 Years of Abraham Lincoln and History Connections

My anticipation had been building for some time leading to this day 20 years ago today: On Friday, July 29, 2005, my parents and I were in Springfield, IL, to visit the Abraham Lincoln Presidential Museum, which had just opened about 3 months prior.

I like to think this trip was an 8th graduation present from my parents, giving me the chance to experience history at the new museum, along with a visit to the state historic site and Camp River DuBois the following day before returning home.

The Chicago Tribune covered its opening in April, and even had a special section with a map of the museum, which I brought with me for this visit.  It noted this place was not your father's, or grandfather's, Lincoln museum.  It used lots of technology and wax figures to bring history alive.

As I reflect on my first visit there 20 years ago, here's 20 parts of the museum that stand out to me:

1. The statues of the Lincoln family in the rotunda, where visitors can pose with them

2. The Law office scene

3. Mr. Lincoln at Knox College during one of the Lincoln-Douglas debates

4. The video showing the Sectional War of the 1860s in just a few minutes

5. The 1860 Presidential Campaign ads moderated by Tim Russert

6. The Cabinet meeting scene as President Lincoln introduces the Emancipation Proclamation with a view out of a window of the partially completed Washington Monument

7. A small corridor presents different views on the Emancipation Proclamation for visitors to consider

8. The scene of Abraham Lincoln reading by firelight

9. Mrs. Lincoln's dresses

10. The Gettysburg mural

11. There was a very moving display of President Lincoln's casket lying in state at the Old State Capitol after his assassination.

12. The General Store display

13. The White House Kitchen

14. Walking into a scene reminiscent of Abraham Lincoln's birthplace

15. A penny in the center of the rotunda

16. The White House South Portico at the entrance of the exhibit about Abraham Lincoln's White House years.

17. Some displays mention the location of places where they happened, noting some are 800 miles away in Washington, D.C., and some just blocks away in Springfield.

18. The Treasures gallery with special artifacts

19. Through Lincoln Eyes presentation

20. The Ghosts of the Library presentation does a great job helping the audience appreciate the importance of history.

Indeed, the museum has helped people appreciate history. And so I offer a Big Congratulations to the Abraham Lincoln Presidential Library and Museum on its 20th anniversary year.

Huzzah!