As museum opens, Lincoln fans await '09

SPRINGFIELD, Ill. -- With the new Abraham Lincoln museum finished, the next big event for Lincoln fans comes in 2009 -- the 200th anniversary of his birth.

The national Lincoln Bicentennial Commission is already making plans, from revamping the penny to sending teaching materials to schools across the country. Organizers also want to make sure southern states join in the celebration, despite any hard feelings left from the Civil War.

"Together, we can make the bicentennial of Lincoln's birth a memorable occasion in Washington, in Springfield and in cities and towns throughout the nation," the commission's executive director, Michael Bishop, said Monday.

He briefed scholars on the plans as part of events marking the dedication of the Abraham Lincoln Presidential Library and Museum.

One idea is to produce four new versions of the penny featuring designs highlighting different eras in Lincoln's life. Legislation allowing the new pennies, and a commemorative coin, is pending in Congress.

"Because everyone deals with the penny almost every day, if we change the design of the penny -- even changing its color, which is a possibility -- it will draw attention all across America to the fact that we are celebrating the 200th anniversary of Lincoln's birth," said Sen. Dick Durbin, D-Ill., a member of the commission.

Other plans include working with public television on a documentary about Lincoln and sending out sets of Lincoln-related teaching materials. They will include pictures, lesson plans and document reproductions, according to the Gilder Lehrman Institute of American History, which is working on the project.

Bishop said the commission hopes to put together a major museum exhibition on Lincoln, one that would travel to a handful of cities. He wants one of those cities to be in the South.

Although individuals in the South have expressed interest in the commission's work, institutions there have not been enthusiastic, he said.

"In certain quarters, feelings still run high about the Civil War and President Lincoln's leadership," Bishop said, noting protests over a Lincoln statue in Richmond, Va., two years ago. "But we think the vast majority of people in the southern states would be very pleased to have such an exhibition."

The new Lincoln museum in Springfield is to open today after a visit by President Bush. The crowds and security require some adjustments.

The city has been asked to remove some signs, traffic lights and trees obstructing the view of Secret Service snipers. A nearby hospital is having employees park at the state fairgrounds and take shuttle buses to work. The Horace Mann insurance company told most of its workers to just stay home for the day.

On the Net

www.lincolnbicentennial.gov