Lincoln’s Kentucky: A New Addition to The Filson’s Website

Lincoln' s Kentucky" A New Addition to 1[ be Filson' s Website mericans love a celebration and if they can link the celebration to an anniversary of an event in our nation' s history then so much the better. Who can forget the awe inspiring scene of fireworks bursting over the Statue of Liberty and flotilla of sailing ships in New York Harbor on July 4, 1976, in celebration of America' s bicentennial. Usually, the more historic the event, the better organized and publicized the celebrations . From the local founder's day celebrations on the county courthouse lawn to nationally planned and televised festivities, they all are a means to recognize and pay tribute to those people and events important to our heritage. Such tributes can take a variety of forms. For historical societies and other institutions of learning,the tribute often takes the form of programming and publications. With the rise and tremendous reach ofthe Internet, websites have become an effective means to educate while at the same time commemorating a historic anniversary. February 12, 2008, marked the beginning of the Abraham Lincoln Bicentennial. Stretching over a twoyear period and bracketing the two hundredth anniversary of Lincoln' s February 12, 1809 birth, the Lincoln Bicentennial, while a national commemoration , holds particular interest for Kentucky and the Ohio Valley. Lincoln was born in Kentucky, grew up in Indiana, and until moving to Washington, DC, to serve as president, lived his adult life in Illinois. FIe was very much a product of the Ohio Valley. 1[ he Filson, in planning for the Lincoln Bicentennial, sought to create a resource both educational and visually appealing to those interested in Lincoln and his Kentucky connections. ' Ihe result is " Lincoln's Kentucky, a section on The Filson's website focusing on our nation' s sixteenth president ,his ties to Kentucky,and aspects of Kentucky history during his lifetime . Lincoln' s determination to preserve the Union, even at the cost of civil war, assured the future greatness of the United States. Any list of American presidents places him and founding father George Washington RIGHT: Main page at the top. While historians have documented the basic facts of Lincoln's and Civil War page ofThe Filson's life ( only the Bible outpaces Lincoln as the subject of published works), Lincoln' s Kentucky the public knows less about the land and the people with whom Lincoln website. 62 OHIO VALLEY HISTORY lilliJAMES I HOLMBERG 'S« KENTUCKf X H 01** Lincoln at The Fllson Lincoln' s Kentucky 5. Ttle * 0* 19 ¥* VS 41 Ahl* h** titi Part** 1 4 lpr% i.** acy Abraham Lincoln s life and legacy have capnvated Kentuckjans Amencans anc people around the world since he rose to national prominence m the 1860 I.......! People MbUM@, aphy presidenbal elecon He is one of the most studled and written about people In history The omcial nat, onal celebrauon marking the bicentennial of his birth Acknowiedgement* i kicks off on February 12 2008 The two year commemorabon actually brackets the blcentenmal of his Februar'y 12 1809 birth 0. 111. C8ta0'G Lincoln was a native Kentucklan Bom on a farm near Hodgenville Ilme in his early life indicated future greatness The family moved to nearby Knob Creek men to Indiana near present Dale and finally,0 Illinois liwas,n Illinois that Lincoln began his career In law and pollocs Almoughthe future president no Bicentennial Events longer lived In Kentucky he maintained his bes to his native state through his friendships and mamage He cons} dered himselfa Kentuckian to his dying day 1809 2089 The life and legacy of this great Amencan are Intertwined with that of his native state The two ca nnot be separa ted Lincolns Kentlicky Is anon 11 ne resou rce Il exploring the connection between the Bluegrass State and Abraham Lincoln The Filson s noh histoMcal collect,on Illustrates Lincoln s conD,luing relanonship w, 0 Kentucky KENTUCKY The project Mas been funded Ir, paM by a grant from the Kentucky Abraham abraham LINCOLN Lincoln Bicentennial Commission The", under construction and con' nues to grow so visit again to see additions««* LINCOLN' S KENTUCKY Kentucky During The Civil War t« O , Abraham...