Abraham Lincoln Presidential Library and Museum set to re-open Wednesday

Posted on June 29, 2020
The museum is set to re-open Wednesday. (Photo courtesy: WJBC/File)

By Dave Dahl

SPRINGFIELD – One of Springfield’s best-known attractions is preparing to re-open Wednesday.

The Abraham Lincoln Presidential Library and Museum is ending its pandemic shutdown. The museum’s Patty Knepler, director of guest experiences, is ready to go.

“We are going to open our doors back up on July First,” said Knepler, “and we definitely have been thoughtfully planning for the experience that focuses on health and safety while ensuring that the life and times and legacy of Abraham Lincoln is as powerful as it’s always been.”

Also opening Wednesday: a new exhibit from the International Spy Museum. The railroad exhibit across the street at Union Station is closing, though, owing to its high-touch nature.

Knepler says one concession to coronavirus is that you must get tickets online in advance. And they’ll control attendance by selling fifteen tickets every fifteen minutes.

Dave Dahl can be reached at [email protected]. 

Blogs

Labor Day – Expanding voting rights for all

By Mike Matejka Because of COVID, there is no Labor Day Parade this year.  It’s always a great event for our everyday workers to march proudly down the street and enjoys the festive crowd. If there had been a parade, this year’s Labor Day theme was to be “150 years of struggle: your right to vote.” …

Is federal mobilization the answer?

By Mike Matejka As President Donald Trump threatens to send federal marshals into Chicago, over the objections of Illinois Governor J.B. Pritzker, recall another Illinois Governor who protested the incursion of armed federal personnel into the city.   Those federal troops, rather than calming, escalated the situation, leading to deaths and violence. Illinois poet Vachel Lindsay…

In these troubled times, to my fellow white Americans

By Mike Matejka Our nation is at a unique watershed in human relations. African-Americans have been killed too many times in the past before George Floyd, but the response to this man’s death is international and all-encompassing. I was a grade-schooler during the Civil Rights 1960s. I watched Birmingham demonstrators hosed and the Selma – Montgomery…

Workers’ Memorial Day – Remember those whose job took their life

Looking around our community, when we say employer, most will respond to State Farm, Country, or Illinois State University.   We too often forget those who are building our roads, serving our food, or our public employees. COVID-19 has made us more aware of the risk.  Going to work every day for some people means…