Waukegan History Museum hosts Abraham Lincoln Pop-Up Exhibit
The Waukegan History Museum, of the Waukegan Historical Society and the Waukegan Park District, has a new pop-up exhibit titled "Abraham Lincoln: A Man Of His Time, A Man For All Times" on view in the theater at the Jack Benny Center for the Arts in Bowen Park.
The exhibit was recently gifted to the Waukegan Historical Society from the Gilder Lehrman Institute of American History. The exhibition runs through Feb. 28, 2019, and is appropriate for all ages and free to view.
The exhibition traces Lincoln's path from self-education as a rough-hewed lawyer with virtually no administrative experience to the president who guided a divided nation through the crisis of slavery, secession and Civil War.
The museum hopes that presenting Lincoln's own words in speeches, letters, and proclamations will encourage a deeper understanding of the 16th president's life, accomplishments and legacy.
Additional Waukegan History Museum exhibits have been added to the display. The exhibit "The Civil War: The War Efforts in Waukegan" tells a comprehensive story of how the Civil War affected local citizens. The years leading up to the war are featured, with stories including local Underground Railroad connections as well as Lincoln's memorable visit to Waukegan.
Stories of Waukegan soldiers are told, including the famous drummer boy Orion Howe, who was awarded the Medal of Honor for his bravery on the battlefield at Vicksburg while at the age of 14.
Also on display is a feature on the Lincoln assassination, which includes a newspaper from the day of the assassination and a model of the Lincoln Family home in Springfield, which is decorated as it was during the Lincoln funeral.
Special Lincoln-themed programs and lectures will be featured in the Jack Benny Center Theatre during the duration of the exhibit. All programs are free and appropriate for all ages.
Upcoming programs:
• 4 p.m. Jan. 6, 2019: "Lincoln's Watch" presentation by Doug Stiles. In 1861, Abraham Lincoln brought his watch to a Washington, D.C., jeweler for repairs. Did the jeweler add an inscription inside the watch? A local family "legend" said he did. Hear the story from Doug Stiles, a descendant of the jeweler, and his adventure of discovering the truth.
• Noon Jan. 11: Lunch and Learn, "Waukegan's Civil War Efforts"
• 7 p.m. Feb. 12: Lincoln's Birthday Bash and Trivia Night
• 7 p.m. Feb. 23: Closing Reception and presentation titled "Abraham Lincoln Goes to Waukegan"
The Jack Benny Center for the Arts is at 39 Jack Benny Drive in Bowen Park, Waukegan. The Lincoln pop-up exhibit is open to the public from 10 a.m. to 9 p.m. Mondays; noon to 6 p.m. Tuesdays; 10 a.m. to 9 p.m. Wednesdays and Thursdays; 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Fridays; and 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturdays.
The Waukegan History Museum is at 1917 N. Sheridan Road in Bowen Park. The museum is open to the public from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Tuesdays and Thursdays and 1-4 p.m. Saturdays. Admission is free.
For information, call the Waukegan History Museum at (847) 336-1859 or the Jack Benny Center at (847) 360-4740; email museum@waukeganhistorical.org; or visit www.waukeganhistorical.org.