Remembering Lincoln

Hello All! Hope everyone is ready to enjoy the upcoming spring weekend! 

We’re sorry we’ve been a bit quiet here on the blog, we’ve been diligently working on our new exhibit The Grand Prairie Story which opened to an enthusiastic crowd this past Sunday, March 15^th. We are currently working on Hidden Underfoot: Historical Archaeology in Illinois which will open on April 19^th. 

Another major project we’ve been working on behind the scenes is a collaborative online exhibit project led by Ford’s Theatre in Washington, D.C., called Remembering Lincoln. The exhibit commemorates the 150^th anniversary of the assassination and funeral of President Abraham Lincoln. The Museum of the Grand Prairie in collaboration with local collector Kent Tucker scanned, photographed, and uploaded a number of items in contribution. From foreign newspaper accounts to photos of the funeral train to first person accounts of reactions to the news of Abraham Lincoln’s death in letters and journals, the items give an intricate look at the Nation’s relationship with a beloved president. You can view the exhibit here: http://rememberinglincoln.fords.org.

If you’re still interested in seeing and reading more about this commemoration look for #RememberingAbe on Twitter and Facebook where the contributing institutions will be sharing more!

If you’d like to come in to the museum and see some of the objects in person, we will be having another new exhibit in the upcoming weeks entitled Lamented Lincoln. The exhibit will feature a number of the objects we have on loan and in our collection related to the assassination, funeral, and tomb of Abraham Lincoln as well, giving visitors an up close and personal encounter.   We’ll update you soon here on the blog and social media to let you know when it opens!

We'll also be commemorating Lincoln at an event here at the museum: 

Tuesday, April 14

FAREWELL TO LINCOLN

Museum Education Center, Lake of the Woods Forest Preserve, 6 – 7:30 p.m.

Today marks the 150^th Anniversary of Abraham Lincoln’s assassination. Join us for a truly unique experience at the Museum of the Grand Prairie as we explore the repercussions for a nation healing after the Civil War while mourning a beloved President. In collaboration with the University of Illinois Sousa Archives and Center for American Music, we will feature a brass ensemble performing music contemporary to Lincoln’s death, while staff and community members give readings from first person accounts, prose, and poetry. From Ford’s Theater to Springfield, Illinois we’ll examine national and local reactions to this important time in history and experience the powerful effect Lincoln had on Champaign County. Free. For more info: (217) 586-2612, svoskuil@ccfpd.org, or kriopelle@ccfpd.org. 

Hope to see you here at the museum soon!