SPRINGFIELD, Ill.—Families, school groups and individuals can enjoy the perfect opportunity to add a meaningful educational component to their next trip by visiting the Abraham Lincoln Presidential Museum in Springfield, Ill.
The museum pays tribute to the author of the Emancipation Proclamation and also revisits the harsh reality of slavery in America while celebrating African American freedom fighters.
"Within its 40,000 square feet of exhibits, the Abraham Lincoln Presidential Museum provides the perfect balance of scholarship and showmanship," Illinois Gov. Rod R. Blagojevich said.
"The impressive facility, technology and exhibits take visitors on a 'you are there' journey they will never forget. It's a must-see Illinois attraction."
Museum visitors travel through a series of "journeys," where several facets of the president's life and political career are highlighted. One journey, "The Slave Auction," is a compelling depiction of a family being divided as its members are auctioned off to slave owners.
While traveling down the Illusion Corridor, visitors experience firsthand a sea of crude whispers, bringing the harsh realities of a divided nation back to life as anti-abolitionistsbrashly denounce Lincoln's stance on slavery. The museum immerses guests in the experience, reminding them that the issue of slavery was one of America's most divisive periods.
Another journey brings visitors to a replica of the White House, outside of which sit lifelike figures of Frederick Douglass and Sojourner Truth waiting for the opportunity to speak with the president. Once inside, visitors will see Mrs. Lincoln being fitted for a dress by Elizabeth Keckley, a former slave who became her dressmaker and closest confidant during the war years.
There is even a re-creation of the White House kitchen, where visitors can listen as African American workers whisper about the possibility of emancipation.
Other journeys chronicle Lincoln's life as a young boy, to the beginning of his political career and through his assassination and funeral.
A visit to the Abraham Lincoln Presidential Museum will provide travelers an educational experience ideal for Black History Month and beyond. For more information on the museum, visit www.alplm.org.
