FINALLY, ABE LINCOLN WILL GET HIS LIBRARY

Hundreds of people gathered Feb. 12 in Springfield, Ill., to witness a groundbreaking for the Abraham Lincoln Presidential Library and Museum.

The $115 million, 198,000-square-foot complex will feature a library to be completed in the fall of 2002 and a museum to open a year later.

It is fitting that the groundbreaking took place on what would have been Lincoln's 192nd birthday. But what is surprising is that it has taken so many years to establish a library and museum to honor him.

Lincoln served as the nation's 16th president from 1861 to 1865. In polls, Lincoln is frequently cited as one of the nation's greatest presidents.

Libraries marking the presidencies of many others since have been established, while Illinoisans did a lot of political bickering over building Abe's.

But, finally, there will be a place where people can go to learn about and see artifacts from Lincoln's presidency. You can be certain the facility will be a big attraction in the Illinois state capital.