You are cordially invited to join the Abraham Lincoln Presidential Library and Museum for two free days of fun as we mark Lincoln’s birthday, honor his love of reading and enjoy musical performances.
Admission will be free Saturday, Feb. 8, and Wednesday, Feb. 12, starting at 9 a.m. both days. On Saturday, the ALPLM will host a Literacy Jam where we’ll collect donations of children’s books, welcome special guests to read stories, and offer music and activities for kids. In addition, a quartet will perform music written specifically for the ALPLM’s special sculpture exhibit “Freedom in Form: Richard Hunt.”
Then on Feb. 12, Lincoln’s actual birthday, admission will be free again. Abraham Lincoln himself (as portrayed by a historic interpreter) will chat with visitors and pose for pictures, and musician Mike Anderson will perform tunes on the dulcimer and banjo. That day also marks the official launch of “Lincoln Unlocked,” a new digital tool for exploring Lincoln’s legacy at the museum.
Abraham Lincoln was born Feb. 12, 1809, in central Kentucky. “I was raised to farm work,” Lincoln would later write. “There was absolutely nothing to excite ambition for education.” Yet Lincoln read voraciously, taught himself, studied law and rose to become a pivotal figure in American history.
“Abraham Lincoln loved books and understood their power to change lives. That’s why we celebrate his birthday by encouraging children to read. We hope parents and caregivers from all over will bring their little ones on this special day,” said Christina Shutt, executive director of the Abraham Lincoln Presidential Library and Museum.
The “Lincolns4Lincoln Literacy Jam” runs 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. on Feb. 8. It is a joint initiative of the ALPLM and the Lincoln Library (Springfield’s public library). It includes children’s stories read by special guests, musical performances and magic tricks. The event also encourages people to donate books for the Compass for Kids program. Information about how to give can be found at www.compassforkids.org/lincolns-4-Lincoln.
In addition, a quartet will perform 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. in the museum’s Illinois gallery, where our special exhibition of sculpture by revered Illinois artist Richard Hunt can be found.
The celebration resumes Feb. 12, Lincoln’s actual birthday, with another day of free admission. Lincoln will join the fun from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m., giving visitors a chance to ask questions about the 16th president’s life and times. Anderson will perform on dulcimer and banjo from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. and might even invite some young visitors to try their hand at making music.
The ALPLM offers free admission in honor of Lincoln’s birthday because everyone, regardless of income, should get the opportunity to learn about Lincoln and his impact on America. A new way to do that is with Lincoln Unlocked, which gives visitors access to rare photos and artifacts, profiles of historic figures and cutting-edge augmented reality features. The tool adds new dimensions to an ALPLM visit, but many of its features can be enjoyed anywhere. Lincoln Unlocked can be downloaded free from Google Play and Apple’s App Store.
Visitors have been helping test Lincoln Unlocked for weeks. The official launch comes on Lincoln’s birthday in part because of his deep interest in technology and innovation. Lincoln is the only president ever awarded a patent for an invention.
The mission of the Abraham Lincoln Presidential Library and Museum is to inspire civic engagement through the diverse lens of Illinois history and share with the world the life and legacy of Abraham Lincoln. We pursue this mission through a combination of rigorous scholarship and high-tech showmanship built on the bedrock of the ALPLM’s unparalleled collection of historical materials – roughly 13 million items from all eras of Illinois history.
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