Get swept up in the fervor overtaking the nation for the Lincoln Bicentennial. For 200 years, our 16th President’s legacy has permeated America to the depths of our pockets. Even if you just spent your last 5-dollar bill, you’ll still find the influential American president immortalized in your pennies. Look beyond your pockets to America’s Byways and experience the life of Lincoln at historic sites and our nation's Bicentennial celebrations all along the way.
Start your Lincoln Bicentennial celebrations at our nation’s capitol, Washington, D.C., just across the Potomac River from the George Washington Memorial Parkway in Virginia. This byway runs close to the Lincoln Memorial, which will be rededicated in 2009 as part of the Bicentennial celebrations. The byway is just a few miles west of other Lincoln historic sites you might wish to visit, such as Ford’s Theater National Historic Site where Lincoln was shot (due to reopen in February 2009), and the White House—Lincoln’s presidential home. Bicentennial events occurring nearby throughout 2009 include birthday tributes, wreath-laying ceremonies, a new commemorative coin unveiling, and Lincoln exhibit openings, to name just a few. Browse the Bicentennial Calendar on the Library of Congress’ Lincoln Bicentennial website for details on these and other Bicentennial events nationwide.
More Bicentennial and Lincoln-themed celebrations await you on several byways in the “Land of Lincoln” – Illinois. In February, visit the Chicago area where Historic Route 66 and the Lincoln Highway begin, and peruse a Lincoln poster exhibit created by school children in the town of Wheaton. Continue southwest along Historic Route 66 to Joliet to study Lincoln and Will County’s “During the Civil War” exhibit. Or head to Springfield and attend Bicentennial activities, such as “Tea with Mrs. Lincoln” or a performance of “Our American Cousin,” the same play Lincoln was attending on the fateful night of his assassination. Sit back and listen to a reenactment of Lincoln’s farewell address, the one he delivered before heading off for Washington, or enjoy an elegant Bicentennial performance by the Illinois Symphony. Later this year, take part in the Lincoln-themed Heritage Days and Lincoln Mural painting activity, held in June in Pontiac, or cruise around its downtown area any time of the year to learn about Lincoln history through nine wayside exhibits. The website for the Illinois Abraham Lincoln Bicentennial Commission lists these and many other commemorative events.
Celebrate this Bicentennial year by visiting Lincoln history sites as well as participating in Bicentennial events. Lincoln’s legacy awaits you year-round along Historic Route 66 in Illinois. Head to the town of Lincoln, about 170 miles south of Chicago. One of the quirkier Lincoln sites, the town of Lincoln (and the only one so dubbed with the president’s consent) was christened by Honest Abe himself, using the juice of a watermelon. Visit the town’s Watermelon Monument, and add some humor to your trip.
Further southwest along Historic Route 66, lies the city where Lincoln spent much of his life and where he is now buried—Springfield, IL. Pay your respects at the Lincoln Tomb State Historic Site in the Oak Ridge Cemetery. At the tomb entrance, be sure to follow tradition and rub the dulled nose of Lincoln’s bronze bust. Visit this historic site on Lincoln’s birthday, February 12, for the wreath-laying ceremony, or come on a Tuesday between June and August to watch enactors in Civil War military costumes perform flag-lowering ceremonies. Before leaving Springfield and Historic Route 66, check out Springfield’s Abraham Lincoln Presidential Library and Museum for extensive Lincoln-related collections and exhibits. During the Bicentennial, participate in the Library and Museum’s events, which range from lectures on the Gettysburg Address and collecting Lincoln memorabilia to creating mammoth portraits of Lincoln entirely out of post-it notes. To immerse yourself in Lincoln-era history even more, dress up in your best late-1800s attire and attend a period ball complete with live music by the 10th Illinois Cavalry Regiment Band.
Named in tribute to the revered President, the Lincoln Highway will guide you to Lincoln sites all across the northern half of the state. Stop off in Dixon, IL, about 40 miles from the byway’s west end, to see Lincoln’s Great Speech Marker and the only known statue of Lincoln as a young soldier. Continue on to Chicago Heights at the byway’s east end to see Lincoln’s features imprinted on the Arche Fountain.
Lincoln lore lives on along other byways as well, such as Illinois’ Historic National Road, which Lincoln voted to fund. Travel the byway to just south of Marshall, where the Lincoln Trail State Park traces the route the Lincoln family took in 1831 from Indiana to Illinois. Here, combine your encounters with Lincoln history and the outdoors by boating, fishing, and hiking, all in Lincoln’s name. Take a break at the historic Archer House in Marshall, the same Bed & Breakfast where Lincoln, as well as other presidents, found rest for the night. Cruise west of Marshall along the Historic National Road for about an hour to reach the Lincoln Log Cabin State Historic Site, the re-created home of Lincoln’s parents. Witness settler life during the 1800s when you observe the costumed re-enactors at this living history site. Ready for more Lincoln? Then continue west on the Historic National Road until you reach Vandalia, IL. Stop for a photo at the Vandalia statehouse where Lincoln once worked as a state representative. He sits peacefully on the statehouse grounds even today – in statue form.
Take the Meeting of the Great River Scenic Route in Illinois to Alton, to see Lincoln-Douglas Square, where life-sized statues of the Senate-seat contenders stand, vividly expressing the controversies of our nation’s Civil War era. The Lincoln-Douglas Square is one of ten Lincoln and Civil War sites around Alton that make up the Lincoln & Civil War Legacy Trail. Among all that you’ll discover on this trail, the Lincoln-Shields Recreation Area makes one great place to stretch your legs and learn about “Lincoln’s Forgotten Duel.” As the story goes, Shields challenged Lincoln to a duel for writing satirical comments about Shields in the local paper. However, on the day of the duel, one look at Lincoln’s long, sword-wielding arms was enough to scare Shields into settling the matter in a less violent fashion.
Even beyond Illinois, Lincoln has made an impression. From the Illinois-Indiana border, travel east on Indiana’s Ohio River Scenic Byway to reach the Lincoln Boyhood National Memorial. Your entire family can enjoy exploring this national park, which includes an informative visitor center and the burial place of Lincoln’s mother, Nancy Hanks. The park also features the Lincoln Living Historical Farm, where you can watch costumed enactors split rails, harvest crops, milk cows, make quilts, and perform other Lincoln-era farm tasks. Throughout 2009, you’ll find reasons to keep coming back to the Memorial and Farm for their Lincoln events in every season.
Perhaps you celebrated the Lincoln Bicentennial early on the “Flatboat Journey of Remembrance” near Indiana’s Ohio River Scenic Byway, which occurred in 2007. The flatboat replica followed a route Honest Abe once took from Rockport, Indiana to New Orleans, Louisiana. At cities along the banks of the Ohio River, the boatmen came ashore to share stories of Lincoln’s flatboat adventures. Stop by Rockport this year and check out the stone, imprinted with Lincoln’s familiar silhouette, marking the spot where Lincoln launched his flatboat.
Abraham Lincoln’s legacy lives on in our culture and in our history, from the coins deep in our pockets to sites across our nation. Come celebrate one of the United States’ most cherished presidents and honor the 200th anniversary of his birth as you travel through the rich Lincoln history of America’s Byways.
