Illinois Travel Guide 2008 - (Page 22) travel to the towns of Ottawa (August 22–24), Freeport (August 29–31), Jonesboro (September 12–14), Charleston (September 19–21), Galesburg (October 3–5), Quincy (October 10–13) and Alton (October 17–19). Although Springfield was not formally a debate site, Lincoln gave his famed House Divided speech on slavery there in the Old State Capitol on June ABRAHAM LINCOLN PRESIDENTIAL LIBRARY ABRAHAM LINCOLN PRESIDENTIAL LIBRARY To plan a Lincoln-themed 3-Day Getaway, check out www.enjoyillinois.com. For more information on Reunion Tour ’08 and all things Lincoln, call the Looking for Lincoln Heritage Coalition at 217/782-6817 or log on to www.lookingforlincoln.com. COURTESY OF ABRAHAM LINCOLN PRESIDENTIAL LIBRARY AND MUSEUM ABE TURNS 200 Springfield’s renowned Abraham Lincoln Presidential Library & Museum, the largest presidential museum in the nation, will be one of many sites around Illinois hosting spectacular celebrations during 2009 in honor of Abe’s 200th birthday (he was born on February 12). Watch for exciting bicentennial exhibits and special events planned at the museum and in towns throughout the state. For an updated schedule, log on to www.lincoln200.net or call 217/558-9025. ILLINOIS. MILE AFTER MAGNIFICENT MILE. enjoyillinois.com 22 RICHARD CUMMINS Top to Bottom: Lincoln and Douglas make a stop on their Illinois debate tour, the reconstructed Old State Capitol in Springfield, where Lincoln gave his passionate House Divided speech on slavery 16, 1858, upon accepting the Illinois Republican Party’s nomination for the office of state senator. It was this speech that marked the beginning of the dialogue on slavery and helped to define the issues that were at the heart of the Lincoln-Douglas debates. The commemoration of this crucial speech will be held on June 14 at Springfield’s Old State Capitol. Reunion Tour ’08 is planned to make a stop in Springfield in September. An event marking the anniversary of the debates is also planned to take place at the Chicago History Museum. All of the towns where the Lincoln-Douglas debates took place have honored the event with a monument or sculpture, but two are especially worth seeking out. Old Main, an American Gothic Revival building on the grounds of Knox College in Galesburg, is the sole remaining origi n a l s i t e o f t h e d e b a t e s . Tw o l a r g e b r o n z e plaques depicting Lincoln and Douglas grace the east wall of Old Main, where the debate was staged. Charleston’s Lincoln-Douglas Debate Museum, built on the exact debate spot at the Coles County Fairgrounds, is the only museum in Illinois devoted to the historic debates. Through interactive displays, an orientation film, artifacts and photos, the museum explores the significance of the debates. Be sure to snap a photo outside with the life-size statues of the towering Lincoln and diminutive Douglas. You can also see portrait sculptures of both Lincoln and Douglas on the wall of City Hall in Charleston’s downtown square, in addition to murals that represent Lincoln and his time spent there. http://www.enjoyillinois.com http://www.lookingforlincoln.com http://www.lincoln200.net http://enjoyillinois.com
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