 A time capsule featuring items relating to the yearlong celebration
of Lincoln's 200th birthday in 2009 will be filled and sealed during
a brief ceremony on Lincoln's 201st birthday, Feb. 12, at 1 p.m. at
the Abraham Lincoln Presidential Museum in Springfield. The time
capsule will be stored in the climate-controlled stacks of the
Abraham Lincoln Presidential Library and is to be opened on
Lincoln's 300th birthday, Feb. 12, 2109.The custom-made capsule
with brass fittings hides a miniature vault that will be completely
sealed to protect the contents during the next century. The items
placed inside will also be sealed in the latest archival storage
materials, much like the priceless original Lincoln artifacts in the
presidential library's collections.
The time capsule will contain documents, images, videos and
material culture to help preserve the memory of the Abraham Lincoln
Bicentennial events held in Lincoln's hometown during 2009. The
items include:
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A selection of
birthday cards for Abraham Lincoln from among the thousands sent
from around the world.
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Examples of the
four new Lincoln penny designs released during 2009, one of
which was unveiled at the Old State Capitol.
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An invitation and
postcard for the Lincoln Bicentennial postage stamp ceremony at
the Old State Capitol.
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A selection of
photographs of bicentennial activities, printed on archival
photo paper; photo CDs with hundreds of images; DVD videos of
many of the events; and printed programs from many events.
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Items relating to
President Barack Obama's speech at the Lincoln Bicentennial
Banquet, including an invitation, the official photo of the
event and a video of the president's remarks.
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Cloth samples from
period clothing worn by re-enactors during the living history
bicentennial program at the Lincoln Home.
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A scale model of
the "Abraham Lincoln -- Self Made in America" tractor-trailer
exhibit that toured the country.
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A Lincoln-Douglas
Reunion Tour button.
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Posters,
magazines, advertisements, bookmarks, brochures, educational
materials, calendars and event schedules pertaining to the
bicentennial.
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A copy of House Resolution 183 on the
Lincoln Bicentennial.
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Since technology will change in the next 99 years, the
electronically preserved items in the time capsule, such as photo
CDs and video DVDs, will be updated every 10 years so people in 2109
can view them.
"We learned a great deal and drew much inspiration from the 1909
Lincoln Centennial when planning the 2009th birthday celebration,"
said Marilyn Kushak, who chaired the Illinois Abraham Lincoln
Bicentennial Commission. "We hope that citizens 99 years from now
will enjoy an equally spectacular 300th birthday and that we can
share in their celebration from the past with this gift to
posterity."
[Text from
Illinois Abraham Lincoln Bicentennial Commission
file received from
the Illinois Historic
Preservation Agency]
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