What to do on Lincoln’s 200th Birthday at Illinois Governor’s Mansion and elsewhere

Feb. 9, 2009 – Governor Pat Quinn will be welcoming folks to the Governor’s Mansion on Thursday, February 12, from 3-6 p.m.

Governor Quinn wants the people of Illinois to join him at the people’s house on Lincoln’s birthday. President Obama, among others will be visiting Springfield and other state sites associated with Lincoln for the celebration of his 200th birthday.

This beautiful house has served as the official residence of Illinois’ Governors and their families since Governor Joel Matteson took up residence here in 1855. The Illinois Executive Mansion is one of the oldest historic residences in the state and one of the three oldest continuously occupied Governor’s Mansions in the country.

For more information, contact:

Carolyn Brown Hodge
Director of Rural Affairs
Office of Governor Pat Quinn
414 Stratton
Springfield, Illinois  62706
(217) 557-9469
cell (217) 836-6645
carolyn.brownhodge@illinois.gov

In Washington, D.C., the historic Ford’s Theater , site of Lincoln’s assassination, will re-open after 18 months, on the bicentennial of Abraham Lincoln’s birth. There will be a week of public and private events honoring Abraham Lincoln’s life and legacy. Across from the theater, is the Peterson house, preserved along with the theater. Lincoln was taken across the street to the Peterson house, where he died after being shot by John Wilkes Booth. Native Chicagoans know that the bed upon which Lincoln died was moved from the Peterson home to the Chicago Historical Society (now Chicago History Museum) where it is still on view.

Other Lincoln’s birthdate events nearer to home include:

from Gapers Block
Abe Lincoln in Illinois @  City Lit Theatre presents a one-night only concert reading of Robert Emmet Sherwood’s 1939 Pulitzer Prize-winning play Abe Lincoln in Illinois in commemoration of Abe Lincoln’s 200th birthday. The show starts at 7:30pm at City Lit Theatre, 1020 W. Bryn Mawr. Tickets are $5.01 (the Lincoln bill plus the Lincoln coin), and are available online. Call 773-293-3682 for more information.

Tall Man of Destiny Exhibit at Chicago Public Library

Art lecture at Art Institute on “The Lincoln Image” by Hans Holzer.

DIY: Create your own tribute to President Lincoln, whose influence is strong again on the national scene because of President Obama’s affinity and respect for Lincoln and his work, by visiting Lincoln statues around Chicago .