Saturday event in Bloomington features Civil War encampment, Lincoln and Douglas re-enactors

[September 24, 2009]  BLOOMINGTON -- They are no strangers to Bloomington, and the two old politicians will return to that city on Saturday as Abraham Lincoln and Stephen A. Douglas make their final stop on the Lincoln-Douglas Reunion Tour. The event, which also features a Civil War encampment, runs from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. at the David Davis Mansion State Historic Site and is free and open to the public.

From 11 a.m. to 1 p.m., re-enactors portraying the two adversaries will discuss their thoughts and memories of their historic debates. Lincoln and Douglas will be portrayed by George Buss and Tim Connor, the same two men who have been the featured performers at each Lincoln-Douglas debate city as part of a tour commemorating the 150th anniversary of the 1858 debates.

The Sept. 26 event will also feature an authentic Civil War encampment on the Davis Mansion grounds and period music provided by the 33rd Illinois Volunteer Regiment Band. Master storytellers and costumed interpreters will bring the David Davis Mansion and grounds to life for visitors. Lincoln-era refreshments will be provided.

The event is co-sponsored by the McLean County Abraham Lincoln Bicentennial Commission and the David Davis Mansion.

The David Davis Mansion State Historic Site, administered by the Illinois Historic Preservation Agency, was built in the 1870s for U.S. Supreme Court Justice David Davis and his wife, Sarah. Davis was a close friend, colleague and political organizer for Abraham Lincoln. The mansion is open Wednesday through Sunday for public tours and is located at 1000 E. Monroe Drive in Bloomington.

[Text from file received from the Illinois Historic Preservation Agency]