Lincoln Presidential Museum, from concept to reality
Designers, leaders and artists to discuss origins of the Abraham Lincoln Presidential Library and Museum
 

[May 08, 2015]  SPRINGFIELD – It took an army of people and years of hard work to take the Abraham Lincoln Presidential Library and Museum from vague concept to gleaming, state-of-the-art reality. Now, as the library and museum celebrates its 10th anniversary, some of its creators are returning to share their memories of those early days.

Five “Evening with the Creators” events are planned, with the first taking place Feb. 26.

Audiences will get to hear behind-the-scenes stories from the community leaders who took the idea, built support and pressed state and federal legislators to back it. They’ll meet the man who oversaw its groundbreaking design, the creators of its signature life-size figures and the artists who brought the museum to life with music and inventive details.

Right now, a “Golden Ticket” to all five events is available to the general public with discounts being offered to members of the Abraham Lincoln Presidential Library Foundation. Later, tickets will be sold for each “Evening” event.

Reserve your tickets on-line or get a behind-the-scenes look at the library and museum.

The first “Evening with the Creators” will explore “How It All Began” with moderator Mark DePue. The roundtable of early advocates of the presidential library starts at 6:30 in the museum’s Union Theater.

April 2 brings Bob Rogers, founder and chief creative officer of BRC Imagination Arts, the design and production company that created the Abraham Lincoln Presidential Museum. Rogers will explain his “Scholarship Meets Showmanship” approach that guided work on the innovative museum.

On June 18, Life Formations, the team behind the museum’s 46 incredibly life-like statues, will discuss their work. Accurate down to the smallest detail, these figures put visitors face to face with young Abe Lincoln, a heartbroken Mary Lincoln, the scheming John Wilkes Booth and many others.

The artists and designers of BRC Imagination Arts visit the museum on Aug. 20. These are the minds who brought a holographic ghost to the museum, took visitors on a journey from log cabin to White House, figured out how to showcase the library’s incredible artifacts and much more.

“Evening with the Creators” wraps up Sept. 17 with David Kneupper, an award-winning composer and sound designer. He produced over three hours of music for the museum to capture the triumphs and tragedies of Lincoln’s life.

The Abraham Lincoln Presidential Library and Museum is celebrating its 10th anniversary throughout 2015, as well as commemorating the 150th anniversary of the Civil War’s end and Lincoln’s death. For more detail on all our events, visit www.TenYearsLincoln.com.

[Chris Wills, Abraham Lincoln Presidential Library and Museum]