Lincoln's home opening new exhibits for 200th birthday
The historic home of Abraham Lincoln, wife Mary and four sons will be open with new programs this summer in Springfield to celebrate the president's 200th birthday.
A new Living History program will feature staff and volunteers dressed in the fashion of the mid-19th century.
Vignettes to be presented in the home include the "Hired Girl," "Artist in the Parlor" or "Reporter."
Volunteers will present an interpretive "Home Grown" program in the Dean House, and elsewhere, volunteers can roam the neighborhood to answer questions, greet visitors in the backyard of the Lincoln Home or demonstrate crafts, such as hand- stitching. Later in the summer, volunteers will be tending the Heirloom Garden, a garden similar to those found in Springfield in the 1860 period, located behind the Dean House. Also special this summer are the voices of the Lincoln Troubadours, an a cappella group of eight local high school and college-age performers dressed in period costumes. They will sing patriotic and sentimental songs of Lincoln's day. The music will be interspersed with dialogue about Lincoln's life in Springfield, his love of music and the role of music in the Civil War to rally the troops and comfort the injured.
The group will perform Wednesdays through Saturdays at 1:30 p.m. at the Old State Capitol, followed by five performances each afternoon in the historic site neighborhood.
Park rangers have scheduled a wide variety of daily programs at 2 p.m. and special programs. Those topics include Lincoln's political career, the Lincoln family, the history of the Lincoln house and neighborhood, rarely seen artifacts, Lincoln on slavery, Mary Lincoln, walking downtown tours and a monthly evening program.
This is the only home ever owned by Abraham Lincoln. By Lincoln Home National Historic Site
All of the programs are free. For more information, contact the Lincoln Home National Historic Site at 391-3221, or the Visitor Center information desk staff or the Web site at www.nps.gov/LIHO. The Lincoln Home Visitor Center is at 426 S. Seventh St.
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