Exhibits

Journey 1

Explore Abraham Lincoln’s early life from his boyhood in a Kentucky cabin through his 1860 campaign for President of the United States.

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Journey 2

Abraham Lincoln achieved what many men only dreamed of when he won the presidency in 1860. But the country was in crisis—the Civil War would begin just weeks after his inauguration, and Lincoln would wrestle with the human toll of battle and of slavery. Family tragedy struck as well, with the death of son Willie in 1862. Cruel personal and political attacks that greeted the Lincolns when they arrived in Washington, D.C., gave way to an outpouring of grief following his assassination on April 14, 1865. Somber scenes of mourning give way to consideration of Lincoln’s powerful hold on Americans.

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Treasures Gallery

Examine up close a variety of artifacts from President Lincoln, his family, and the Civil War.

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Illinois Gallery

Richard Hunt (1935-2023) was a paragon artist of the 20th century. He was recognized as a singular talent while still a young artist, is regarded as an art vanguard by his contemporaries, and is unparalleled in public art commissions. Freedom in Form: Richard Hunt at the Abraham Lincoln Presidential Library and Museum presents, for the first time, Hunt's artistic achievements as a contribution to the national conversations about freedom and justice. The exhibition draws on the narrative of Black emancipation and the halting delivery of liberty to all people—history and heritage motivated Hunt’s 70 years of making art in America. Born on Chicago’s South Side, Hunt made his artistic home on Chicago’s north side, a perch from which he interpreted histories and myths with materials that built the modern urban metropolis: steel, bronze, and aluminum. During the second half of the last century, as the ‘long arc of the moral universe’ lashed to and fro, Hunt's life and artwork represent an abiding commitment to representing freedom and the possibility of transformational change.

Freedom in Form will allow visitors to view Hunt’s work informed by a Black historical perspective. The presence of voice and struggle through figures such as Frederick Douglass, Emmett Till, and Ida B. Wells will permeate and frame the experience – freedom takes many forms. For most of his career, Richard Hunt literally lived with his work at his studio - converting a City of Chicago utility building in 1971 in the Wrightwood Neighbors area near Chicago’s Lincoln Park. Freedom in Form will utilize the concept of place to situate the viewer to feel his presence through his personal effects, tools, materials and works. Media features with Hunt’s contemporaries will provide voices of tribute and perspective, coupling the lived experiences of the man with the wonders that are his creations.

Exhibit Dates: October 25, 2024 - April 20, 2025

Photo credit: Suzanne Seed

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Citizen City (in development)

We are developing a unique children’s exhibit experience which is ripped from the pages of graphic novels and will engage our young patrons to champion democracy and save the city. Check back for updates when this space goes live.

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Lincoln’s Life in Letters

At its heart, the Abraham Lincoln Presidential Library and Museum is a showcase for the millions of items housed in its collection devoted to Illinois history and Abraham Lincoln. On any given day, at least 100 of those items are on display. Included in the collection are more than 1,600 documents in Lincoln’s hand. We invite you to explore Lincoln’s life through some of the documents that shaped our museum exhibits and the stories they tell.

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The Stevenson Room

The Stevenson family have prominently served their state and country as Illinois representative, Illinois treasurer, Illinois secretary of state, congressman, governor, U.S. senator, vice president, and ambassador to the United Nations. Funded by a grant from the Illinois secretary of state, The Stevenson Room is an experience that illuminates the Stevenson family’s story using objects, like buttons and hats, from their many campaigns. This cutting-edge exhibit boasts interactive digital kiosks that allow you to explore the Stevenson family tree, listen to speeches, create political campaign buttons and more!

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Union Station

Union Station was opened in 1898 by the Illinois Central Railroad and the last passenger train left Union Station on April 30, 1971. The station is designed in the Romanesque Revival style, which is evident in its decorative stone and brickwork, strong geometric form, and soaring clock tower. This building is not currently open to the public, but it provides a beautiful backdrop for pictures and a picnic lunch.

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Acts of Intolerance

This sculpture, by Preston Jackson, commemorates the centennial of the brutal Springfield Race Riot of 1908. 

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Greater Task

This statue, by John W. McClarey, reflects upon Lincoln’s difficulties as a wartime president.  

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Beacon of Endurance

Opening in 2022, Beacon of Endurance will examine Lincoln’s inspiring legacy through his own words.

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Lincoln Bench

This life-size reproduction of Lincoln was donated to the Abraham Lincoln Presidential Library and Museum in honor of the Siciliano Construction Company workers who built the museum and library.  

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The State of Sound: A World of Music from Illinois

Experience the on-line version of the critically-acclaimed, award-winning original ALPLM exhibit which was featured in Springfield and in Chicago. The exhibit tells the story of the “Sonic History” of Illinois through mini documentaries, images and artifacts. Written by Dave Hoekstra.

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The Gettysburg Address Up Close

Get a detailed look at the ALPLM’s copy of Lincoln’s most famous speech through this interactive exhibit. Pop-up boxes will explain key ideas, tell the document’s history, and link to other sources of information. The page also includes a photo gallery and educational resources for teachers and parents.

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Emancipation Proclamation

On the day Abraham Lincoln signed the Emancipation Proclamation, he reportedly told abolitionist Senator Charles Sumner that it was “the great event of the nineteenth century” and “that the name which is connected with this matter will never be forgotten.” Lincoln was correct that the Emancipation Proclamation would become the focal point of his life and legacy, and it continues to be one of the seminal texts of American History.

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Here I Have Lived: Home In Illinois

Winner of the American Association of State and Local History for Leadership in History.

For centuries the land that has become Illinois has been home. Here our region’s earliest indigenous residents built powerful, lasting communities. And for generations afterward, though immigration, migration, and settler colonialism, Illinoisans have changed the world…by starting at home.

Through their stories and objects, we invite you to explore our shared roots and what it means to truly find a place of belonging. 

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Abraham Lincoln: President, Emancipator, Corporate Pitchman

Abraham Lincoln: President, Emancipator, Corporate Pitchman
Run dates: May 23, 2025 – August 24, 2025
Illinois Gallery

Learn about the life and legacy of Abraham Lincoln, and his contributions to the American identity through a unique tactile exhibit which brings 2-dimensional art into touchable 3D – Special sensors trigger audio features for each station – designed to create an experience for patrons with visual impairment, this exhibit can be enjoyed by all visitors who want to get up close and personal with the 16^th President.

Abraham Lincoln is regarded as one of the greatest leaders in American history, and a permanent part of the American spirit. As the mythology around him has grown, his image and life have been appropriated across a broad cultural spectrum. This exhibit not only tells his story, but dives into his impact on the US government as well as corporate America.

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