Lincoln exhibit comes to Murray State University
An exhibit titled, “Discovering Kentucky’s Abraham Lincoln,” will be on display, starting Monday, Jan. 12, at Murray State University’s Wrather West Kentucky Museum. Developed by the Kentucky Historical Society (KHS) as a part of the Museums-to-Go program, the exhibit celebrates Lincoln’s birthday bicentennial by strengthening the understanding of connections between the 16th president and his native state. The exhibit is divided into five different themes — “A Frontier Childhood,” “Becoming President,” “Ending Slavery,” “Lincoln and Kentucky at War” and “Remembering Lincoln Differently.”
According to Kate Reeves, museum director, the timing is perfect for this exhibit. “The Wrather Museum is fortunate to have a Lincoln exhibit at this particular time. “Not only is it here as the country prepares to celebrate Lincoln’s 200th birthday on Feb. 12, but it also coincides with the 2009 Presidential Lecture Series on campus, featuring presidential biographer and Lincoln scholar, Richard Norton Smith,” Reeves said. Smith’s lecture topic is “Lincoln at 200.” He will be on campus Monday, Feb. 2, with the lecture beginning at 7 p.m. in Lovett Auditorium. The event is free and open to the public.
Reeves went on to point out that Lincoln signed the Emancipation Proclamation in January of 1863, and that February is Black History Month. Additionally, the United States will inaugurate its first African-American president, Barack Obama, on Jan. 20, which follows Martin Luther King Jr. Day on the 19th. “We’re just really pleased with how all of this ties together,” she said. “These are things that can appeal to a broad audience — MSU students, faculty and staff, as well as area school children and community members.”
The museum also has a permanent Civil War exhibit on display.
“Discovering Kentucky’s Abraham Lincoln” is funded by the James Graham Brown Foundation, the KHS Foundation and the Kentucky Abraham Lincoln Bicentennial Commission.
KHS has multiple Museums-to-Go traveling exhibits that explore the humanities through historical images and text. The topics currently in circulation span history, literature, the arts and science.
The exhibit at Wrather West Kentucky Museum will be on display through Jan. 31. Admission to the museum is free. It is open Monday through Friday from 8:30 a.m. to 4 p.m., and on Saturday from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. Wrather is located just past the corner of Main and 16th Streets on University Drive.
For more information, contact Reeves at (270) 809-4771.
According to Kate Reeves, museum director, the timing is perfect for this exhibit. “The Wrather Museum is fortunate to have a Lincoln exhibit at this particular time. “Not only is it here as the country prepares to celebrate Lincoln’s 200th birthday on Feb. 12, but it also coincides with the 2009 Presidential Lecture Series on campus, featuring presidential biographer and Lincoln scholar, Richard Norton Smith,” Reeves said. Smith’s lecture topic is “Lincoln at 200.” He will be on campus Monday, Feb. 2, with the lecture beginning at 7 p.m. in Lovett Auditorium. The event is free and open to the public.
Reeves went on to point out that Lincoln signed the Emancipation Proclamation in January of 1863, and that February is Black History Month. Additionally, the United States will inaugurate its first African-American president, Barack Obama, on Jan. 20, which follows Martin Luther King Jr. Day on the 19th. “We’re just really pleased with how all of this ties together,” she said. “These are things that can appeal to a broad audience — MSU students, faculty and staff, as well as area school children and community members.”
The museum also has a permanent Civil War exhibit on display.
“Discovering Kentucky’s Abraham Lincoln” is funded by the James Graham Brown Foundation, the KHS Foundation and the Kentucky Abraham Lincoln Bicentennial Commission.
KHS has multiple Museums-to-Go traveling exhibits that explore the humanities through historical images and text. The topics currently in circulation span history, literature, the arts and science.
The exhibit at Wrather West Kentucky Museum will be on display through Jan. 31. Admission to the museum is free. It is open Monday through Friday from 8:30 a.m. to 4 p.m., and on Saturday from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. Wrather is located just past the corner of Main and 16th Streets on University Drive.
For more information, contact Reeves at (270) 809-4771.
