LINCOLN CITY, Indiana—Thursday, Feb. 12, 2009 marks the bicentennial anniversary of President Abraham Lincoln’s birth. Regarded by many as one of the most significant American presidents, President Lincoln’s birth is scheduled to be celebrated at several national sites known to have connections with the sixteenth president.
The Abraham Lincoln Birthplace National Historic Site, located in Hodgenville, Kentucky, is now part of the National Park Service, and one of the locations of the planned festivities commemorating his birth. Although most Americans associate Springfield, Illinois with much of Lincoln’s later adult life, he was actually born in a log cabin near Hodgenville, in Hardin (now LaRue) County, Kentucky. His birthplace marked the day with a series of events, not the least of which was a release at 10:00 a.m., of the first of four Lincoln 2009 pennies. By special invitation, the National Park Service hosted a representative of the U.S. Mint, Deputy Director Andy Brunhart, who presented the new coin as part of the day-long ceremonies. Every year this site hosts a ‘Lincoln Days Luncheon’, at nearby Lincoln Elementary School. A ribbon-cutting ceremony for the newly-restored Boyhood Cabin at Knob Creek, also took place in the afternoon.
The city most Americans identify with President Lincoln, is the one that also witnessed some of his more memorable years, Springfield, Illinois. The National Park Service’s celebratory program at this site will go on for several days, from Feb. 11th through the 15th. There will be a special living history and ranger program daily, as well as tours of Lincoln’s home, the Lincoln Home National Historic Site. Several presenters are scheduled at this historic site, beginning with Lincoln presenter, Fritz Klein presiding over a family storytelling program on February 12th. Continuing on through the weekend with discussions on freedom, equality and civil rights, will be presenters
re-enacting Harriet Tubman, Fredrick Douglass, and Martin Luther King Jr. Details on these bicentennial events are posted at: http://www.nps.gov/liho.
“Lincoln was in fact, a Hoosier,” said Mike Capps, Chief of Interpretation at the Lincoln Boyhood National Memorial Site, located in Lincoln City, Indiana. This was the primary message that came across in today’s program, held here on Thursday, Feb. 12th. “Lincoln did in fact spend a considerable amount of his time growing up here. This may be, or is the often overlooked chapter [of Pres. Lincoln’s life]. It is still a significant part of that story, so, I think that for those who came here today, that message came across pretty well.”
Although Lincoln was born in Kentucky, his father, a restless frontiersman, soon moved his little family to Spencer County Indiana. It was here that Lincoln lost his beloved mother, Nancy Hanks, when he was only nine years old. As part of today’s ceremonies, there was a pilgrimage and traditional wreath-laying at her gravesite.
Soon after her death, Lincoln’s father re-married, and the family continued to reside in Spencer County until 1830. Asked what he felt was most significant about growing up in Indiana might have been for the young Lincoln, Mike Capps said, “It was probably the process of growing up here, when and where he did. The frontier experience, instilling in him the values of hard work. The idea of values that you had the willingness to work hard, obviously for survival, but he also realized he knew that was the way to get ahead. Growing up on the frontier, that was a way of life, prepared him because the work ethics were there.”
Ms. Mary Busam who is a resident of Spencer County, came with her son to join the solemn occasion. She said that both she and her son are touched by Lincoln’s life. “I guess the idea that he grew up in a small town and had a hard time, but then he went on to be president in that era.”
Dr. James Madison, professor of History at Indiana University was the featured speaker, as part of this annual Lincoln Day program. To learn more about the special places managed by the National Park Service that commemorate the life of Abraham Lincoln, please go to: http://www.nps.gov/pub_aff/lincoln200/index.html
The Abraham Lincoln Birthplace National Historic Site, located in Hodgenville, Kentucky, is now part of the National Park Service, and one of the locations of the planned festivities commemorating his birth. Although most Americans associate Springfield, Illinois with much of Lincoln’s later adult life, he was actually born in a log cabin near Hodgenville, in Hardin (now LaRue) County, Kentucky. His birthplace marked the day with a series of events, not the least of which was a release at 10:00 a.m., of the first of four Lincoln 2009 pennies. By special invitation, the National Park Service hosted a representative of the U.S. Mint, Deputy Director Andy Brunhart, who presented the new coin as part of the day-long ceremonies. Every year this site hosts a ‘Lincoln Days Luncheon’, at nearby Lincoln Elementary School. A ribbon-cutting ceremony for the newly-restored Boyhood Cabin at Knob Creek, also took place in the afternoon.
The city most Americans identify with President Lincoln, is the one that also witnessed some of his more memorable years, Springfield, Illinois. The National Park Service’s celebratory program at this site will go on for several days, from Feb. 11th through the 15th. There will be a special living history and ranger program daily, as well as tours of Lincoln’s home, the Lincoln Home National Historic Site. Several presenters are scheduled at this historic site, beginning with Lincoln presenter, Fritz Klein presiding over a family storytelling program on February 12th. Continuing on through the weekend with discussions on freedom, equality and civil rights, will be presenters
re-enacting Harriet Tubman, Fredrick Douglass, and Martin Luther King Jr. Details on these bicentennial events are posted at: http://www.nps.gov/liho.
“Lincoln was in fact, a Hoosier,” said Mike Capps, Chief of Interpretation at the Lincoln Boyhood National Memorial Site, located in Lincoln City, Indiana. This was the primary message that came across in today’s program, held here on Thursday, Feb. 12th. “Lincoln did in fact spend a considerable amount of his time growing up here. This may be, or is the often overlooked chapter [of Pres. Lincoln’s life]. It is still a significant part of that story, so, I think that for those who came here today, that message came across pretty well.”
Although Lincoln was born in Kentucky, his father, a restless frontiersman, soon moved his little family to Spencer County Indiana. It was here that Lincoln lost his beloved mother, Nancy Hanks, when he was only nine years old. As part of today’s ceremonies, there was a pilgrimage and traditional wreath-laying at her gravesite.
Soon after her death, Lincoln’s father re-married, and the family continued to reside in Spencer County until 1830. Asked what he felt was most significant about growing up in Indiana might have been for the young Lincoln, Mike Capps said, “It was probably the process of growing up here, when and where he did. The frontier experience, instilling in him the values of hard work. The idea of values that you had the willingness to work hard, obviously for survival, but he also realized he knew that was the way to get ahead. Growing up on the frontier, that was a way of life, prepared him because the work ethics were there.”
Ms. Mary Busam who is a resident of Spencer County, came with her son to join the solemn occasion. She said that both she and her son are touched by Lincoln’s life. “I guess the idea that he grew up in a small town and had a hard time, but then he went on to be president in that era.”
Dr. James Madison, professor of History at Indiana University was the featured speaker, as part of this annual Lincoln Day program. To learn more about the special places managed by the National Park Service that commemorate the life of Abraham Lincoln, please go to: http://www.nps.gov/pub_aff/lincoln200/index.html
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