“Unfinished Work,” a popular new exhibit at the Abraham Lincoln Presidential Library and Museum, will remain on display through Labor Day instead of closing May 15 as originally planned.
The exhibit has received such a positive reception from visitors that officials at the presidential library decided more people should have the opportunity to see it.
“It’s a real testament to our staff that something intended to be a short-term exhibit was put together with such quality and care that it deserves to be seen throughout spring and summer,” said Nadine O’Leary, acting executive director of the Abraham Lincoln Presidential Library and Museum.
Curator James Cornelius worked with the Abraham Lincoln Presidential Library Foundation to select rarely seen items with a personal connection to the 16th president. The ALPLM’s design team built the display to highlight different elements of Lincoln’s life – family, career, the presidency, his assassination and more.
The “Unfinished Work” exhibit features documents and artifacts from the immense Taper collection. Among them:
- A legal bill showing where Lincoln reduced or deleted charges for a widowed client.
- Walking sticks that he owned during his presidency.
- His beloved stepmother’s “X” signature on a receipt.
- A gorgeously illustrated copy of the Emancipation Proclamation.
- A delicate paper lantern used during his campaign for re-election.
The exhibit takes its name from the Gettysburg Address, in which Lincoln described the “unfinished work” of bringing freedom to the nation. The name refers both to Lincoln’s life being cut short and to the mission of ensuring that these and other irreplaceable artifacts find a permanent home at the Lincoln Presidential Library and Museum.
The Abraham Lincoln Presidential Library Foundation has raised almost $14 million in in-kind and financial support for the Permanent Home Campaign, leaving some $11 million remaining to be raised.
Most of the exhibit’s items on display are underwritten by generous donors; others remain available for sponsorship. The exhibit is unique because it not only highlights amazing artifacts but also recognizes the people who have underwritten them.
“’Unfinished Work’ helps tells the inspirational story of our nation’s 16th president to visitors from across the globe, while also helping us secure a permanent home for these historic items which make up the legacy of Abraham Lincoln,” said Dr. Carla Knorowski, chief executive officer of the Abraham Lincoln Presidential Library Foundation.
“Unfinished Work” is presented in the museum’s Illinois Gallery. The exhibit is free with regular admission to the museum.
The Abraham Lincoln Presidential Library and Museum, a division of the Illinois Historic Preservation Agency, is dedicated to telling the story of America’s 16th president through old-fashioned scholarship and modern technology.
The library holds an unparalleled collection of Lincoln books, documents, photographs, artifacts and art, including the Gettysburg Address, Emancipation Proclamation, 13th Amendment and Abraham Lincoln’s stovepipe hat. It also serves as the state’s historical library, with some 12 million items pertaining to Illinois history.
The museum uses traditional exhibits, eye-catching special effects and innovative story-telling techniques to educate visitors. It also presents an array of temporary exhibits about Lincoln and Illinois.
The museum is open seven days a week. The library portion of the ALPLM is open free of charge Monday through Friday for research. For details, visit www.PresidentLincoln.illinois.gov.
