For Immediate Release
Lincoln Presidential Library celebrates trains
SPRINGFIELD, Ill. – A new exhibit celebrating train history and the 150th anniversary of the transcontinental railroad opened Friday at the Abraham Lincoln Presidential Library and Museum with hours of free family activities.
“All Aboard: America’s Love of Railroads” is housed in historic Union Station, a former train depot that is now part of the presidential library’s campus in downtown Springfield.
The centerpiece of the exhibit is an incredibly detailed model of the scene when the “golden spike” was driven to link railroads from the east and west on May 10, 1869. Abraham Lincoln had been an important supporter of the transcontinental railroad project.
The exhibit also features toy trains for children to play with, learning stations explaining how the transcontinental railroad changed the nation, a model of the funeral train that carried Lincoln’s body home to Springfield, and a place for visitors to share their own railroad memories.
“It’s wonderful to see all this railroad activity in this beautiful and historic train depot,” said Alan Lowe, executive director of the Abraham Lincoln Presidential Library and Museum.
“Lincoln understood the importance of trains,” Lowe said. “He promoted them as a young legislator, worked for them as a lawyer and depended on them as commander in chief. This exhibit represents a fun way to help people of all ages connect with history and better understand Lincoln’s era.”
Normally, “All Aboard” – which runs for the rest of the year – will be included in the regular price of admission to the presidential museum. On Friday, the exhibit was free to everyone.
Children got to ride around Union Square Park in a “barrel train,” take pictures in a photo booth and make paper lanterns. They learned about the Chinese immigrants who helped build the transcontinental railroad, watched a blacksmith at work, found out how land is surveyed and talked to “Harvey Girls” who worked in restaurants along early train routes.
They also learned about railroad safety from Clifford THE BIG RED DOG.
The HO gauge 1:87 scale model of the golden spike ceremony was created by the Springfield Railroad Society Inc. A team of nine members donated 1,000 hours of work designing, building, molding and painting the replica for guests to enjoy.
“It has been a rewarding adventure to build this display. It took a lot of research and time to reconstruct the era in such detail, and the team looks forward to visitors enjoying it and learning from it,” said Thomas Ose, vice president of the Springfield Railroad Society. “We also hope others who see the display may be inspired to also get involved in a fascinating hobby.”
The Lincoln Presidential Library and Museum uses a combination of rigorous scholarship and high-tech showmanship to immerse visitors in the life and times of Abraham Lincoln. Visitors can see ghosts come to life on stage, watch TV coverage of the 1860 presidential election, roam through the Lincoln White House, experience booming cannons in a Civil War battle and come face to face with priceless original Lincoln artifacts.
The library holds an unparalleled collection of Lincoln books, documents, photographs, artifacts and art, as well as some 12 million items pertaining to all aspects of Illinois history.
For more information, visit www.PresidentLincoln.illinois.gov. You can follow the ALPLM on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.
