History Comes Alive in Springfield this summer

[June 08, 2016]  SPRINGFIELD - Visit Springfield, the Springfield Convention and Visitors Bureau is announcing the seventh season of History Comes Alive, a living history program. Program dates for summer 2016 are June 7 through August 13.

Throughout the summer, History Comes Alive provides opportunities to experience life in the nineteenth century. Visitors and residents will find downtown Springfield and the Lincoln historic sites bustling with costumed interpreters portraying the people who lived and worked in Springfield as Abraham Lincoln’s neighbors, friends and coworkers.

Visit Springfield worked with several historic sites and attractions to launch the 2016 History Comes Alive season. Gina Gemberling, Executive Director of Visit Springfield said, “We are excited to announce another season of the popular History Comes Alive program. By offering an extensive list of activities and events that invite visitors to experience the nineteenth century, this program encourages visitors to extend their stay and explore more of what our city has to offer.”

Program highlights include the chance to meet Abraham Lincoln and hear him deliver his famous Gettysburg Address, attend a Civil War flag lowering ceremony, learn about nineteenth century life from Mary Todd Lincoln, hear the Lincoln Troubadours sing Civil War-era songs, or converse with Lincoln contemporaries such as General Ulysses S. Grant and William Herndon, Lincoln’s law partner.

Program locations include Abraham Lincoln Presidential Museum, Edwards Place, Elijah Iles House Museum of Springfield History, Lincoln Depot, Lincoln Home National Historic Site, Lincoln Tomb, Old State Capitol and Thomas Rees Memorial Carillon. To see the 2016 schedule go to www.visitspringfieldillinois.com

History Comes Alive is supported by a partnership between the Illinois Historic Preservation Agency, Lincoln Home National Historic Site and the Illinois Department of Commerce & Economic Opportunity - Illinois Office of Tourism and Visit Springfield.

[Jeff Berg]