Illinois Travel Guide 2009 - (Page 10) JOIN the FESTIVITIES Springfield will be the focal point of numerous Abraham Lincoln Bicentennial festivities celebrating the president’s 200th birthday (he was born on February 12, 1809). In addition, several Illinois towns and sites have planned special events. While most of the festivities take place in February, Lincoln sites statewide plan to roll out the red carpet year-round. Be sure to contact specific sites to confirm hours of operation and dates of special events before visiting. February 6–8 and 13–15, the Springfield Theatre Centre presents Our American Cousin at the Hoogland Center for the Arts. This 19th-century comedy about a boorish American who visits his staid British relatives gained notoriety as the play that President Lincoln was watching when he was assassinated at Washington’s Ford’s Theatre in 1865 by John Wilkes Booth. Celebrate Lincoln’s birthday early, from February 7–8, with a weekend featuring historical characters, performances and tours at the Vermilion County Museum Complex in Danville. The Vermilion County Museum and Fithian Home (once owned by a good friend of Lincoln) will both be open for free. On the morning of February 11, a re-enactment of Lincoln’s farewell address as he embarked for Washington will be staged at Springfield’s Prairie Capital Convention Center. In the evening, the Illinois Symphony Orchestra performs. February 11–15, the Lincoln Home National Historic Site will offer several living history, musical and scholarly programs. The schedule includes readings by prominent Lincoln authors, a family storytelling hour with Abe himself and a performance of Abraham Lincoln: A Biography in Words and Music. On February 12, a free Bicentennial Period Ball will be held at the Abraham Lincoln Presidential Museum on the evening of Lincoln’s birthday. The 10th Illinois Volunteer Cavalry Regiment Band will perform period music, and guests are invited to dress in mid-1800s attire. The Lincoln Log Cabin State Historic Site in Lerna also celebrates Lincoln’s birthday on February 12. Living history demonstrations will take place throughout the day, giving visitors the chance to participate in typical daily chores and activities that Abe would have done as a boy. Springfield celebrates the Bicentennial throughout the summer. From May through September, join the Mr. Lincoln’s Springfield walking tour at the Old State Capitol Plaza. May 16–17, a re-enactment at Lincoln’s New Salem depicts Lincoln marching off to war in 1832. And Springfield’s July 3–4 festivities promise a Lincoln-themed street festival with many 19th century touches. Visitors to Chicago will find an extensive Lincoln collection year-round at the Chicago History Museum. The museum features Lincoln artifacts, including three of his famed stovepipe hats. The museum hosts a Lincoln exhibition throughout 2009 and offers monthly programming for visitors to learn more about the Lincoln presidency. Check out chicagohistory.org for more details. county courthouse, including a courtroom and county office with period furnishings. The Lincoln College Museum in Lincoln is a hidden gem that features a remarkable collection of artifacts donated by Robert Todd Lincoln Beckwith, the last living Lincoln descendant. The museum contains a number of articles owned by Mary Lincoln, including china, books and mourning clothing, along with an invitation to Lincoln’s 1865 inaugural ball. Also impressive is the extremely rare copy of “Mortality,” Lincoln’s favorite poem, written in his own hand. For the latest events information, log on to the Illinois Abraham Lincoln Bicentennial Commission Web site at lincoln200.net and visit enjoyillinois.com and lookingforlincoln.com for more Lincoln information. KIM KARPELES The Mt. Pulaski Courthouse is one of two surviving original courthouses from the days when Lincoln practiced law while traveling the Eighth Judicial Circuit. The red-brick, Greek Revival-style building has been restored and interpreted as an operating 1850s courthouse that features the actual second-floor courtroom where Lincoln argued cases. Located across the town square is the Mt. Pulaski Historical Society Museum, filled with a wealth of stories about Lincoln and his many friends in Mt. Pulaski. 10 ILLINOIS. MILE AFTER MAGNIFICENT MILE. enjoyillinois.com COURTESY OF LINCOLN COLLEGE http://www.chicagohistory.org http://www.lincoln200.net http://www.enjoyillinois.com http://www.lookingforlincoln.com http://www.enjoyillinois.com
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