From Vermillion to Adams Counties, local communities are
organizing to plan celebrations for Abraham Lincoln’s
200th birthday in 2009. Recently, Urbana, Champaign, and
Champaign County did the same, bringing together nineteen
citizens as a Bicentennial Commission to coordinate and
encourage schools, civic organizations, clubs, churches,
libraries, and the like to develop and execute celebrations
to honor our 16th president.
The impetus for these local organizations comes from Sen.
Dick Durbin who envisions a grassroots effort to expand
on the presence of the Abraham Lincoln Presidential Library
and Museum in Springfield. Rather than just visit the Museum,
Durbin wants to encourage visitors and state residents to
visit the courthouses, railroad depots, and private homes
that Lincoln frequented as a lawyer riding the circuit throughout
East Central Illinois. Towns and communities need to prepare
themselves for renewed interest in Lincoln by identifying
the buildings and places associated with Lincoln and planning
activities and celebrations that commemorate Lincoln’s
time and influence in the counties comprising the 8th Judicial
Circuit.
We in Champaign County are fortunate to have many such sites:
Alschuler’s Photography Studio, the Nine Gal Tavern,
the Tolono Railroad Station, the County Courthouse, just
to name a few. Even though many structures are no longer,
plans are already underway to mark these spots with waysides
– distinctive markers that tell the story not only
of Lincoln but the citizens who formed the future president.
We are also a county blessed with many cultural activities
routinely scheduled throughout the year. What better way
to refresh and reinvigorate them than by including a special
recognition of Mr. Lincoln in ‘09!
Some plans are already underway. The Early American Museum
and Champaign County are jointly constructing an exhibit
area at the courthouse which will be completed in 2009.
This space will not only chronicle Lincoln’s legal
work while in the County but serve as an educational resource
for school children. WILL-TV recently received a $40,000
grant from the Illinois Bicentennial Commission to develop
local programming on Lincoln the Lawyer in Champaign County.
Next June, the Urbana School District’s American History
Teacher’s Collaborative is sponsoring a workshop to
prepare teachers for the Bicentennial by focusing on Lincoln
in East Central Illinois.
What are your ideas? We all belong to clubs and organizations
which provide membership programs or community outreach
activities. These venues would certainly be appropriate
to celebrate and recognize Illinois’ most favorite
son. Whatever people or groups are inspired to do, the Bicentennial
Commission would like to know about your plans. Whether
they be simple or grandiose, one time events or annually
repeated, the Commission will be glad to hear what you’re
thinking about. The County website will serve as a clearinghouse
– a gathering point, a coordination center, a singular
publicity point to accept and share ideas. Ways to reconnect
with Lincoln can be found at the Champaign County website
(http://www.co.champaign.il.us/lincoln)
Cheryl Kennedy, Chair
Champaign County Lincoln Bicentennial Commission
586-2612
