Lincoln Heritage Museum Wins National Wendy Allen Award

[February 02, 2016]  LINCOLN - During the Lincoln Forum’s annual meeting in Gettysburg, Pennsylvania, the Lincoln Heritage Museum won the Wendy Allen Award. This national award recognizes exceptional achievements in promoting scholarship about Abraham Lincoln.

Lincoln Forum Chairman Frank Williams presented the award to former Lincoln Heritage Museum director, Ron Keller. Williams recognized the Lincoln Heritage Museum’s design that focuses on Lincoln’s character while providing visitors the opportunity to see, hear, and touch history.

On receiving the award, Keller said, “I was honored to be able to receive the Wendy Allen award in person on behalf of the Lincoln Heritage Museum at the Lincoln Forum. To be considered for this award by some of the world’s most recognizable Abraham Lincoln scholars is quite an honor for the Lincoln Heritage Museum.”

The award is named for the renowned Gettysburg artist Wendy Allen, who is considered the leading interpreter of Abraham Lincoln in paint and watercolor. Past recipients of the national award include: Ford’s Theatre and Lincoln’s Cottage, Washington, D.C.; the Lincoln Memorial Museum, Redlands, CA; and the Ulysses S. Grant Association.

Tom McLaughlin, Director of the Lincoln Heritage Museum credits the tireless work and dedication by Keller and his staff to receiving the Wendy Allen Award. “To win such a prestigious award as the Wendy Allen Award, is a true credit to all of the museum’s dedicated staff and volunteers on their tireless efforts and hard work.”

The Lincoln Forum is a nationwide organization of individuals who share a mutual interest in the life of Abraham Lincoln and the Civil War era. The forum meets annually in Gettysburg, Pennsylvania.

The one of a kind Wendy Allen Award (painting) is on display at the entrance of the Lincoln Heritage Museum.

[Christina Xamis, Lincoln College]