Tag Archives: Abraham Lincoln

History, Special Events, We Love Arts
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The Lincoln Legacy Project at Ford’s Theatre

Photo courtesy of
‘Rehearsal, Ford’s Theatre’
courtesy of ‘Jenn Larsen’

With Republican debates underway and the growth of both Occupy Wall Street and Occupy Occupy Wall Street, it appears most of America is angry, frustrated, or confused. And we’re all pretty much broke.

What better time, then, to look back on the legacy of a president who saw the country through its most traumatic era?

This month, Ford’s Theatre launches the Lincoln Legacy Project, a 5-year effort to create dialogue around the issues of tolerance, equality, and acceptance.

You read that right: it’s a 5-year project. And yes, they know that 5 years in DC time is about 2.5 generations of staffers moving in and out. By the time they’re finished, we’ll be entering primary debates again.

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The Features
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We Love Arts: Win Tickets to Spencer Finch

Spencer Finch, Passing Cloud, (394 L Street NW, Washington, D.C., July 7, 2010), 2010, dimensions variable. Fluorescent light fixtures and lamps, filters, monofilament, and clothespins. Courtesy of the artist and Galerie Nordenhake, Berlin. Photo: Chan Chao.

“I see the President almost every day, as I happen to live where he passes to or from his lodgings out of town…. I saw him this morning about 8 ½ coming to business, riding on Vermont avenue, near L street…. Mr. Lincoln on the saddle generally rides a good-sized, easy going gray horse, is dress’d in plain black, somewhat rusty and dusty, wears a black stiff hat, and looks about as ordinary in attire, &c., as the commonest man…. I see very plainly Abraham Lincoln’s dark brown face, with the deep-cut lines, the eyes, always to me with a deep latent sadness in the expression.  We have got so that we exchange bows, and very cordial ones.”

–       Walt Whitman, “ Abraham Lincoln,” No. 45 (August 12, 1863), Specimen Days in Prose Works, Philadelphia:  David McKay, 1892, p. 43.

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History, News, The Daily Feed
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The Lincoln Memorial Goes Online

Photo courtesy of
‘under the pillars’
courtesy of ‘philliefan99’

History buffs take note — there’s a new, interactive Web site being launched in honor of the 146th anniversary of President Lincoln’s Gettysburg Address.

This multimedia expansion of the pristine marble temple was launched today by the National Park Service. The site includes videos, panoramas and oral testimonials from the park rangers who have worked at the memorial for decades, according WTOP.

If this catches on as a web trend, similar sites may be launched in the coming months. The nonprofit Trust for the National Mall is currently raising money to build the sites for other Washington memorials.

The site should be viewed with a high-speed connection. Still having trouble viewing the site? NPS recommends downloading the latest version of FlashPlayer.

All Politics is Local, Business and Money, Essential DC, History, Special Events, The Daily Feed
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Final Commemorative Penny Makes Its Debut

Photo courtesy of
‘Lincoln in Illinois (2009 Proof Lincoln Cent)’
courtesy of ‘kevindooley’

This morning the U.S. Mint issued the fourth and final coin of the 2009 Lincoln Bi-Centennial One-Cent Program.

Despite the rainy, cold, miserable weather, coin enthusiasts of all ages patiently waited in line to be the first recipients of the special edition penny and to turn their hard earned paper currency into coin.

This final penny carries a special edition backside showing an unfinished Capitol Building representative of the divided union Lincoln presided over. The three previously issued coins feature the log cabin where Lincoln grew up, a youthful Lincoln reading on a rail post, and a young working Lincoln standing in front of the Illinois State Capitol (feature in the above picture).

Special Events, The Daily Feed
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Last Chance For Lincoln’s Coat

Photo courtesy of
‘DSC_3383’
courtesy of ‘Ghost_Bear’

If you’ve not seen the revamped Ford’s Theatre yet, you may want to soon. Tomorrow, the National Park Service is replacing the original wool overcoat worn by Abraham Lincoln with its replica. The original Brooks Brothers coat will remain in conservation storage until February, where it will return for public viewing until June.

The National Park Service with the support of Ford’s Theatre Society have agreed to display the Lincoln coat for six months annually in an effort to balance conservation of and public access to the historic artifact worn by Abraham Lincoln on the night he was shot at Ford’s Theatre. The coat has been on display in the Ford’s Theatre lobby since February 2009 when the theatre and adjoining lobby opened to the public following its $25 million renovation.

The Daily Feed
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Lincoln’s Watch Vandalized

photo by philip-odegard

I’m fascinated by all things related to the presidency.  I’m no history buff by any means and I can’t spout off useless presidential facts (you don’t want me on your Trivial Pursuit team), but the office of the POTUS is probably the most unique position anyone could ever be in.  Heck, if I was married, had kids, was religious, had powerful connections, and was a millionaire, I’d even think about running for president one day.  Now there’s a scary thought.

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