An original edition of the Gettysburg Address is on display for a limited time as part of the Abraham Lincoln Presidential Library and Museum’s new exhibit Lincoln: A Life and Legacy that Defined a Nation. The museum is the only place in America where the public can regularly see Lincoln’s most famous speech written in his own hand.
To give more people the opportunity to experience this powerful document, admission to the museum will be free on Nov. 19, the 162nd anniversary of Lincoln delivering the speech at a military cemetery in Gettysburg, Pa.
ALPLM historians will host free Q&A sessions exploring the history and lasting impact of the Gettysburg Address at 11 a.m. and 1:30 p.m. on Nov. 19, 20, and 21.
Visitors also have the option of buying a $5 exhibit-only ticket to see Life and Legacy without touring the rest of the museum. The Gettysburg Address will be displayed in the exhibit through Dec. 1, after which it will be replaced by a signed copy of the Emancipation Proclamation.
In previous years, the document was displayed for only 10 days to limit its exposure to light. This year, thanks to new protective technology, it can remain on view much longer. The museum’s new smart-glass display case can shift from clear to opaque in seconds when no one is looking at the fragile document, dramatically reducing light exposure. That means the unique Lincoln document can remain on display longer while ensuring it is preserved for generations to come.
The Gettysburg Address is one of the most famous speeches ever given. Its stirring prose and historic impact have been studied by everyone from schoolchildren to scholars.
“In just a few short minutes, Abraham Lincoln offered the nation a path forward – one dedicated to liberty and equality,” said Christina Shutt, executive director of the Abraham Lincoln Presidential Library and Museum. “Seeing his carefully crafted words in his own handwriting reminds us that liberty and unity are not abstract ideals. They are responsibilities we inherit and must protect.”
Visitors can also explore special features related to the address:
- The Gettysburg Tactile Table offering a hands-on experience ideal for visitors with visual impairments will be available Nov. 10-23.
- The Readers Theater: Gettysburg presentation brings Lincoln’s words to life in the museum plaza Fridays and Saturdays throughout November at 11 a.m. and noon.
Lincoln delivered the Gettysburg Address on Nov. 19, 1863, at the dedication of a national cemetery for the thousands of Union soldiers killed at the Battle of Gettysburg. It opens with the famous phrase “Four score and seven years ago” and finishes by describing the Civil War as a battle to preserve government “of the people, by the people, for the people.”
Only five handwritten copies of the Gettysburg Address still exist. In addition to the ALPLM’s copy, one is in the White House, one is at Cornell University and two are at the Library of Congress. Those institutions rarely exhibit their copies to the general public. The ALPLM, however, displays its copy each year around the anniversary of Lincoln delivering the speech.
For those unable to visit in person, the ALPLM’s website offers an interactive, in-depth look at the document, its history, and how it differs from other versions. The site also provides educational resources for teachers and parents, a photo gallery, and links to additional information: www.PresidentLincoln.Illinois.gov/GettysburgAddress.
The State of Illinois has owned this edition of the address, known as the Everett Copy, since 1944, when the state’s children helped raise money to buy it from private owners.
“The Gettysburg Address belongs to the people of Illinois because schoolchildren made it possible,” said Dr. Ian Hunt, chief of acquisitions and special projects at the Abraham Lincoln Presidential Library and Museum. “In the middle of World War II, students across the state collected their pennies to bring Lincoln’s words home. That act of unity and self-sacrifice ensured this national treasure would be preserved for all.”
The mission of the Abraham Lincoln Presidential Library and Museum is to inspire civic engagement through the diverse lens of Illinois history and by sharing 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 – some 13 million items from all eras of Illinois history.
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