Ideas for Cities, Counties, Historical Organizations, and Museums

We hope that these materials will spark ideas for how your community can provide a wide selection of Lincoln-related programming for Lincoln’s 200th birthday celebration which lasts until February, 2010. 

• Have a Lincoln-related display or exhibit at community courthouse or another public building, or arrange to receive a Lincoln Museums-to-Go traveling exhibit from the Kentucky Historical Society. For more information, see the Community Toolkit Resources page.
• Dedicate a plaque to honor Lincoln and his 200th birthday at your community courthouse or another public building.
• Plan a celebration or reception centered around Lincoln’s 200th birthday.  Invite a speaker to discuss a local history topic. A list of speakers and directions for how to book them is included on the Community Toolkit Resources page.

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• Produce a Lincoln-related exhibition or program.
• Use the era of Lincoln to bring attention to historic buildings, old courthouse records, or community or family history.

• Have a local historian write a Lincoln-related article—such as a profile of your community in 1809—for the local newspaper.
• Have school children write letters to Lincoln that will appear in the local newspaper.  Letters can focus on what the children think about Lincoln or their thoughts about what Lincoln would think about America today.
• Have a local government official write a letter to the editor or separate editorial on the importance of Lincoln’s ideas in the context of today’s issues.
• Publish the Lincoln Commission’s “Kentucky’s Abraham Lincoln Facts” in your local newspaper.
• Publish articles in your local newspaper about your community’s Civil War history.
• Publish a series of “on-the-street” interviews asking residents what they think of Lincoln; include person’s photo and quote with the article.
• Publish an article on your community’s 19th century buildings.
  

• Encourage young people to participate in a Lincoln penny drive to benefit a community charity.
• Sponsor local poster/art contest for children.  Showcase art in a public building or your local newspaper.
• Hold a patriotic song concert with local school bands in honor of Lincoln.
• Partner with a school or civic organization to raise scholarship money for student who exemplifies Lincoln’s ideals of hard work and persistence.