Lincoln Birthplace celebrates Emancipation Proclamation's 150th anniversary

The Abraham Lincoln Birthplace National Historical Park hosts an “Emancipation Proclamation 150th Anniversary Observance” next weekend. All activities are free to the public.

Over the course of the weekend, children can participate in the newly developed “Park Quest” that will lead them in a scavenger-hunt activity to find various landmarks around the park. Once they have successfully completed the quest, kids will receive a “special surprise,” according to a news release.

Children are invited to creatively express their ideas about Lincoln, freedom and the Emancipation Proclamation through art and will be asked to design posters at an activity station located in the lobby of the park’s visitors’ center. They will be able to take these posters home as a reminder of the event.

On Saturday, the park hosts two speakers as part of the observance. At 1 p.m., Dr. Robert Dietle, head of the history department at Western Kentucky University will speak on Lincoln and the lasting effects of the Emancipation Proclamation. At 2 p.m., Jim Sayre will portray Lincoln during his presidency and will talk about what led up to the issuance of the proclamation.

The presentation is in the theater section of the visitors’ center.

During the weekend, visitors also are able to view posters on display in the visitors center that were designed in honor of this observance by fifth graders at Abraham Lincoln Elementary School in Hodgenville.
 
For information, call the park at 270-358-3137 or go to www.nps.gov/abli.