Lincoln Bicentennial 1809-2009

The Tri-County Regional Abraham Lincoln Bicentennial Commission wants to help get the word out about Lincoln-related events for the upcoming year.  Established February 12, 2008 through February 12, 2010, the commission is hoping to collect and share information about any groups planning to honor the man in the coming year.  If you would like your groups' event to be included on our site, please contact us here.  Current list of Lincoln Events happening in the Peoria Area.

The commission serves to promote a deeper knowledge, understanding, and engagement in the life and times of Abraham Lincoln, and says that celebrating Lincoln's 200th birthday will help place Illinois on a worldwide stage, offering a unique opportunity to promote Illinois tourism to a regional, national, and international audience. 

The commission meets regularly and produces plans for area-wide celebrations.  With new programs at historic sites, the Abraham Lincoln Bicentennial will generate measurable increases in visitation.

Mission Statement:
The Tri-County Abraham Lincoln Bicentennial Commission exists to encourage, organize, coordinate, and promote educational activities and events associated with the life of President Abraham Lincoln to celebrate his 200^thbirthday and to commemorate his life's work, which culminated in the preservation of the Union in the United States.  In recognizing the ties, history and heritage that the Tri-County area, past and present, has had with President Lincoln, this mission shall be met through the coordinated utilization of schools, arts, media, and all institutions that preserve and promote this connection for all future generations.

Speakers' bureau:

Dr. Junius P. Rodriguez
Associate Professor of History
Eureka College
300 East College Avenue
Eureka, IL 61530-1500
1-888-4EUREKA
jrodrig@eureka.edu

President                    Dr. Junius P. Rodriguez
Vice President           Jean Myers
Secretary                  Amy Kelly
Treasurer                  vacant 

Other members:Linda Aylward, Cheryl Bockhold-Sloan, Pat Goitein, Judy Gross, Les Kenyon, Dale Kuntz, Doris Larke, Brent Lonteen, Carol May, Matt Ryan and Randall Saxon

Events:

World-renowned Lincoln sculptor, John McClarey, is well along in his effort to create life-sized bronze statues of Abraham Lincoln and Lincoln's last client at the Woodford County Courthouse in Metamora, Melissa Goings, who was accused of murdering her husband in 1857. McClarey was recently invited to show the Metamora Lincoln statue in progress at an art seminar at the Old State Capitol in Springfield. The preliminary statue is in clay before the bronze is poured. When done, the statue of Lincoln will be wearing his famous stovepipe hat and will be holding his pocket-watch while walking next to Melissa in the Metamora Square.

The statues will be unveiled in late summer of 2009 near the recently installed Looking for Lincoln Wayside Exhibit. The statues are being privately funded by the Woodford County Historical Society, and more than $70,000.00 has been raised for the project. Tax-deductible donations are still needed for the $35,000.00 balance and can be put in the jug inside the Metamora Courthouse or checks can be made out to WCHS-Statue and mailed to the same name, P.O. Box 1072, Metamora, IL 61548. All donations will be publicly recognized except for those from people wishing to remain anonymous.

People are welcome to visit John McClarey's studio in Decatur, Illinois to see the clay models. For more information, contact Jean Myers, WCHS Statue Committee Chairperson, at 367-4470 or at metcourt@mtco.com.

[Pictured are Jean Myers, Metamora Courthouse Curator, John McClarey, and "Abraham Lincoln."]

Visit http://www.lincoln200.net/ for more events.