Tea and history, a perfect combination
Abraham Lincoln Presidential Library looks back to landmark 1893 event with ‘World’s Fair Tea’ on Aug. 1
 

[July 31, 2015]  SPRINGFIELD – History is fun all by itself, but what happens when you add tea, sandwiches, desserts and decorations? You get an amazing afternoon, that’s what.

The Abraham Lincoln Presidential Library and Museum presents a “World’s Fair Tea” on Saturday, Aug. 1, with the popular Tea Ladies, who will entertain and educate guests about the historic 1893 World’s Columbian Exposition in Chicago.

The Chicago World’s Fair brought America the Ferris wheel, Pabst Blue Ribbon beer, belly dancing and the influential City Beautiful movement in urban planning. Some 27 million people visited the fair during its six-month run.

Tickets are $35 or $31.50 for museum members. Visit www.presidentlincoln.illinois.gov  and click on “Special Event Reservations.”

The traditional three-course tea begins at 1 p.m. and wraps up at 3. The menu includes scones and clotted cream, chicken salad, herbed cucumber rounds and desserts such as lemon butter tarts and chocolate-dipped strawberries. Each table will be decorated in a different style.

World’s fair artifacts, photos and posters from the presidential library’s collections will be on display. The Tea Ladies, in full period costume, will explain the fair and its impact. As a bonus, guests will get free admission to the museum’s once-in-a-lifetime exhibit “Undying Words: Lincoln 1858-1865.”

The Abraham Lincoln Presidential Library and Museum is celebrating its 10th anniversary with an incredible line-up of special events. For details, visit www.TenYearsLincoln.com.

[Chris Wills, Abraham Lincoln Presidential Library and Museum]