Abraham Lincoln Presidential Museum honors MLK’s inspiration
Not-for-profit groups will get free admission to Lincoln Presidential Museum on Martin Luther King birthday

[January 14, 2015]  SPRINGFIELD – The Abraham Lincoln Presidential Library and Museum will thank community groups striving to better the lives of people in our neighborhoods by giving them free admission on Jan. 19, Martin Luther King Day.

The museum is also offering special admission prices for anyone who helps provide gloves for homeless people.

Dr. King once said, “Not everybody can be famous but everybody can be great because greatness is determined by service.” Each year, thousands upon thousands of Illinoisans turn that philosophy into action by joining groups to improve education, clean up neighborhoods, help the needy and much more.

To honor that service, and to help children appreciate another great American who prized liberty and equality, community organizations can bring groups to the Lincoln Presidential Museum at no charge on the King holiday. Reservations are required and can be made by calling the Group Tours office at 217-558-8939.

The usual admission price is $6 for children from 5 to 15 and $12 for adults and older teens.

The groups must consist of 15 or more people. If it’s a group of children, there must be one adult chaperone for every 10 children. (Extra chaperones above that ratio will have to pay for their tickets.) The children can range in age from 4th grade to high school seniors.

The following service organizations will have health and information booths set-up in the museum: Susan G. Komen For The Cure, genHkids Coalition, Coalition of Citizens with Disabilities in Illinois, and the American Heart Association. These booths will be open from 10 am – 4pm.

The presidential library will also reward individuals for giving something to the community.

From now through the end of January, the gift shop is selling gloves for $2.99 that will be donated to Springfield’s homeless residents. Anyone who purchases a pair of gloves for the homeless will receive a coupon good for either $5 off admission to the presidential museum or $10 off an Abraham Lincoln Presidential Library Foundation membership.

Recent charity drives at the Lincoln Presidential Library and Museum produced 181 pairs of socks and 360 books for the children of Springfield.

[Chris Wills, Abraham Lincoln Presidential Library & Museum]