Springfield IL Tourist Attractions

Abraham Lincoln Presidential Library & Museum
Life of Abraham Lincoln

Category: Springfield Museum in Illinois
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Description of this Springfield Attraction: The Abraham Lincoln Presidential Library & Museum is the largest presidential library complex in the US, a fitting tribute to one of the most-written about individuals in history. The Library contains world’s most extensive Lincoln collection, with more than 47,000 items. They include: nearly 1,500 documents written or signed by Lincoln between 1831 and 1865; handwritten copies of Gettysburg Address and President Lincoln’s Second Inaugural Address; family documents and artifacts, including the Lincoln’s marriage license, a tablecloth from their wedding reception, the nameplate from the front door of the only home they owned and Mr. Lincoln’s shaving mirror. The Library is also home to the Illinois State Historical Library with more than 12 million items in its collection. It attracts thousands of scholars, students and history buffs from around the world for research. The Presidential Museum invites visitors to step into the world of our 16th President, Abraham Lincoln. From a replica of Lincoln's Indiana boyhood cabin to life in Springfield as lawyer and politician; from his Presidential years and the agony of the Civil War to his funeral homecoming to Springfield, visitors will explore the triumphs and tragedies of Lincoln's life. State-of-the-art exhibits and advanced technology move the conventional museum experience to a level not experienced before now: theater seats that reverberate from cannon fire and Holavision® 3D images that interact with live actors and then evaporate into thin air. The Whispering Gallery is a twisted, unsettling hallway where visitors hear brutally unkind things said about Mr. and Mrs. Lincoln during their early months in Washington. Cruel caricatures and harsh political cartoons attacking the Lincoln cover the walls of the gallery. The Emancipation Proclamation exhibit is a special-effects illusion corridor featuring a gauntlet of dream-like images of people telling Lincoln what he should do. The compilation of varying, sometimes racist, opinions reminds visitors that Lincoln was leading a deeply divided nation. Visitors can also meet Mrs. Lincoln in the White House; share an intimate scene between the President and First Lady as they sit with son Willie just before his death; overhear war gossip from the servants in the White House kitchen; witness the President and First Lady’s last moment together before he was assassinated. In addition to these and many more permanent exhibits, the Illinois Gallery with 3,000 square feet of temporary exhibit space will feature Smithsonian-caliber changing exhibits on topics as diverse as America’s First Ladies, Chicago’s gangster era, the architectural genius of Frank Lloyd Wright and other topics illustrating the rich history of Illinois and America. The Museum drops visitors into Abraham Lincoln's Life in a way no other historic site has been able to do. Why not take the plunge? Museum: Children (ages 5-15)$4; $10 adults; $7 students/seniors; school groups 15 & more are free, but must pre-register through Springfield Convention & Visitors Bureau, (217) 789-2360, ext 154. Entrance to Library is free.

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Springfield IL Tourist Attractions

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