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Getting to know Lincoln better

Museum plaqueYou have probably already heard of Abraham Lincoln

Deisha Tamar Manuhutu (The Jakarta Post)
Springfield, Illinois
Sun, October 3, 2010

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Getting to know  Lincoln better

Museum plaque

You have probably already heard of Abraham Lincoln. As the 16th president of the United States, he stood up against the slavery of African-Americans and was assassinated while he was still in office, partly because of his stance on slavery. However, what some of us may not realize is that there is a museum and library dedicated to him.

The Abraham Lincoln Presidential Library and Museum were built in Springfield, the capital of Illinoisand were first opened in 1889. As the Illinois State Historical Library, the building was first used to preserve and collect old books, manuscripts, documents and archives. Now the museum is known as the Abraham Lincoln Presidential Library, a public facility that is also part of the Illinois Historic Preservation Agency.

The library holds a wealth of material pertaining to the history of Illinois, including Lincoln-related documents, which are available for research — although we may need a permit to access some of them.

Statues of Abraham Lincoln and his family members
Statues of Abraham Lincoln and his family members

During my visit I had an opportunity to catch a glimpse of a replica of the Declaration of Independence, and the Gettysburg Address, which is a famous speech that was delivered by president Abraham Lincoln in 1863 in Gettysburg, Pennsylvania, to honor soldiers who died in the US Civil War.

The museum building itself stands just across the street from 112 North 6th Street, connected to the library by a bridge. Before the inauguration of this museum in 2005, Ford’s Theatre in Washington, DC, where Lincoln was assassinated in April 1865, was considered to be the Lincoln Museum.

This museum has 12 different sections, nine dedicated for main galleries, while the rest is used for catering the logistical needs of visitors; a museum store, a tourist center called The Gateway and a sandwich restaurant for visitors who are hungry after strolling through the museum.

A tour of the museum starts at The Plaza, an entrance through which visitors can go. Entering the hall, visitors will be greeted by statues of Lincoln’s family, Mary Todd Lincoln, his wife, along with his three sons, Robert Todd, Edward Baker and William Wallace — you can take pictures with them, in addition to having The White House as a background of your photo. The Plaza, however, is the only place where visitors were allowed to take pictures.

A librarian holding the replica of the Declaration of Independence
A librarian holding the replica of the Declaration of Independence

I got so excited about going to the museum that I strolled through the galleries at random like an elementary school kid on a field trip. This turned out to be a huge mistake, because I ended up starting with his presidential years, before moving on to his assassination and then his childhood, when I should have gone the other way around.

So, if you have the chance to visit this exceptional museum, it will be better to start from Journey One: The Pre-Presidential Years, which is on your left as you enter from the plaza, marked by an old log cabin and a statue of a young Lincoln sitting in front of the cabin holding his book. This room will take you on a long journey along the early life of Lincoln, a young boy who never had a formal education, but educated himself with books; his life in Springfield, the death of his son, until his journey to Washington, DC to serve as president.

When you are done with Journey One, continue to Journey Two: The White House Years. This section is marked with a replica of the White House. This section describes the difficulties experienced by Lincoln when he was serving as president, as described in The Whispering Gallery. This section is also the busiest one, and contains a description of Lincoln’s struggle to come to terms with the tragic death of Willie, the controversies that surrounded the Emancipation Proclamation to prohibit the slavery and free African-American slaves and his death at the hands of John Wilkies Booth at the Ford’s Theatre.

Reliving Lincoln’s log cabin
Reliving Lincoln’s log cabin

At the end of the passageway, there is a full-size replica of Lincoln’s coffin with heart-wrenching music playing in the background creating a funeral atmosphere.

For those who want to see the reconstruction of history, it is better for them to check out two theatrical shows; Ghosts of The Library and Lincoln’s Eyes.

Museum façade
Museum façade

The Ghost of The Library tells about the excitement that historians get from doing their jobs, collecting data and doing research to reconstruct past events. Through holographic technology, we can catch a glimpse of the “ghost” of Lincoln who wanders around the stage, and other historians who walk through the ether. Lincoln’s Eyes is a show about the life of Lincoln that features breathtaking theatrical effects that keep you on the edge of your seat. The Ghost of The Library sent shivers down my spine.

Another point of interest is Mrs. Lincoln’s Attic, a display dedicated to children (and adults) who are eager to learn about the games that the Lincolns played as children, and to see what Lincoln and his family wore back in the day.

To know more about items belonging to the Lincolns, check out the Treasure Gallery, or The Illinois Gallery if you want to know all about Illinois and its history.

On the way out make sure you grab a sandwich at the Subway outlet in the museum, or check out the Museum Store, which sells a variety of unique souvenirs.

Tickets are available for US$12 for adults and $6 for children under 15, for the rare opportunity to get to know Lincoln better at this wonderful museum. For more information, visir www.alplm.org.

— Photos by JP/Deisha Tamar Manuhutu

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