ECW Weekender: Abraham Lincoln Exhibits at the Smithsonian (Virtually)

I think I just discovered a rabbit hole. I am so excited to find a grand selection of online exhibitions from the Smithsonian National Museum of American History! There are a handful with a Civil War focus, and I’ll be sharing links over the next few weeks.

Today, let’s take a look at some of the exhibits spotlighting Abraham Lincoln’s life and legacy:

Abraham Lincoln: An Extraordinary Life

This is based on a exhibit that was in the museum from 2009 to 2011, and now you can explore it from home. Use the right-column table of contents to move through the galleries, finding an overview of Lincoln’s life, interesting historical facts, and images of rare artifacts related to the 16th President.

America’s New Birth of Freedom: Documents from the Abraham Lincoln Presidential Library

This exhibit (originally created in 2009) focuses on the Emancipation Proclamation and Hampton Roads Peace Conference with a wonderful collection of documents related to each. The photo galleries allow a close up view of the original papers and there are downloadable transcriptions for easier research! There are also video clips of Illinois state historian Dr. Thomas F. Schwartz addressing the importance of Lincoln’s words and writings.