Presidents Day
Plan a Presidents Day weekend getaway in Washington, DC and join in a citywide birthday salute to one of America’s favorite presidents. You can also take advantage of great deals on hotels throughout the city when you book a Lincoln hotel package here on lincolnindc.com.
Check out the calendar of events to discover what’s happening in DC on Lincoln’s Birthday and throughout Presidents Day weekend, including events like the official reopening of Ford’s Theatre following an extensive renovation. The theatre opens with the world premiere of “The Heavens are Hung in Black,” a play recounting the struggles Lincoln endured at the end of his life, along with other official rededication events.
The National Archives Experience will mark Lincoln’s birthday by displaying one of his most famous works, the original Emancipation Proclamation, for four days, Feb. 12-16.
At the Lincoln Memorial, you can join in a birthday tribute to the 16th president on Feb. 12 complete with a wreath-laying ceremony and performances of 19th century music and patriotic classics by military bands.
The Library of Congress celebrates Lincoln’s birthday with the opening of the official national bicentennial exhibition, With Malice Toward None: The Abraham Bicentennial Exhibition. Drawing from the Library’s extensive collections, the exhibition examines Lincoln’s thoughts, words and actions, which were deeply affected by personal experiences and pivotal historic events. Using audio-visual listening stations that bring the words to life, the exhibition is designed to give visitors a deeper understanding of how Lincoln’s decisions and words continue to resonate today. The exhibition runs Feb. 12-May 9, 2009.
President Lincoln’s Cottage will unveil a new life-sized statue of the president on Feb. 12, along with its new exhibition, My Lincoln, packed with intriguing Lincoln items assembled from various private collections. The exhibition runs through Dec. 31, 2009.
The National Museum of Health and Medicine opens a new exhibition on Feb. 13, just in time for Presidents Day weekend. Abraham Lincoln: The Final Casualty of the War chronicles Lincoln’s final hours and features artifacts like the bullet that ended his life and a drawing created at his death scene.
The Washington National Cathedral will salute Lincoln with an Evensong service on his birthday, Feb. 12. On Feb. 15, the Church of the Epiphany will round out the weekend with a special program recalling Lincoln’s attendance at the funeral of the first Union general killed in battle and his use of the church as a hospital for wounded troops.
Other Presidents Day highlights include lectures at the African American Civil War Memorial, Hillwood Estate Museum & Gardens, the Jewish Historical Society of Greater Washington and a sunrise photo safari at the Lincoln Memorial offered by Washington Photo Safari.
For more details, visit our calendar of events.
