Press

Washington, DC Celebrates Lincoln Bicentennial with Cultural Tourism Promotion

“I like to see a man proud of the place he lives. I like to see a man live so that his place will be proud of him.”—Abraham Lincoln

(Washington, DC)… In the final countdown to the 2008 election, Washington, DC’s travel and tourism industry leaders gathered at the Smithsonian American Art Museum and National Portrait Gallery to announce a citywide celebration promotion spotlighting one of history’s best-loved leaders. February 12, 2009 marks the 200th anniversary of Lincoln’s birthday, and DC is honoring the sixteenth president with a four-month celebration, Living the Legacy: Lincoln in Washington, DC.

Beginning January 1, just in time for Inauguration Day, and running through April 30, the presidential promotion will examine the life of Honest Abe through more than 80 exhibitions, performances, lectures and tours, plus themed packages and offerings at DC’s hotels and restaurants. Living the Legacy is produced by The American Experience Foundation in partnership with Destination DC and Cultural Tourism DC.

“This is a powerful tribute to one of our country’s greatest presidents, launching just in time to capture the buzz and excitement we’re all feeling during the run-up to the 2009 inauguration,” said Bill Hanbury, president & CEO, Destination DC. “It’s also a great example of how our cultural institutions can collaborate with our hotels, restaurants and transportation services to create a powerful experience for DC visitors.”

“During his years in Washington, DC, Lincoln established a legacy that can be felt both locally and nationally,” said Linda Harper, executive director, Cultural Tourism DC. “By building on the major events and exhibitions taking place at our nationally-known attractions, we can also introduce residents and visitors to the cultural treasures in our neighborhoods that played a role in Lincoln’s life here in Washington.”

Presidential history buffs can look forward to an impressive lineup of major Lincoln events and commemorations, including the February reopening of Ford’s Theatre and the re-enactment of Marian Anderson’s concert at the Lincoln Memorial on Easter Sunday, April 12. DC will also play host to dozens of Lincoln look-a-likes April 16-19 as the American Association of Lincoln Presenters holds its annual convention, with events at various locations throughout the area.

Cultural institutions will honor Lincoln’s life with special exhibitions, including:

• Smithsonian American Art Museum’s The Honor of Your Company Is Requested: President Lincoln’s Inaugural Ball, which showcases invitations, copies of the dinner menu that spurred an infamous food fight and illustrations from the legendary party that took place within the building. (on view through Jan. 18, 2010).
• The National Portrait Gallery’s One Life: The Mask of Lincoln, which draws upon the museum’s collection of Lincoln portraits to show how the president used the new art of photography to convey his image to Americans. (Nov. 7, 2008-July 5, 2009).
• The Historical Society of Washington, DC’s Portraying Lincoln: Man of Many Faces, with more than 100 works of art from 90 artists offering their own interpretations of Lincoln’s life and legacy. (Feb. 11-Nov. 8, 2009)
• The Library of Congress’ With Malice Toward None: The Abraham Bicentennial Exhibition, the official national bicentennial exhibition, which draws from the Library’s extensive collections and incorporates audio-visual listening stations to give visitors a deeper understanding of how Lincoln’s decisions and words continue to resonate today. (Feb. 12-May 9, 2009).
• The National Museum of American History’s Abraham Lincoln: An Extraordinary Life, a fascinating exhibition of more than 60 historical treasures drawn from the Smithsonian’s Lincoln collection. (Jan. 16, 2009- Jan. 2011).
• President Lincoln’s Cottage’s My Lincoln, which explores the president’s legacy through the eyes of his most enthusiastic admirers who’ve amassed extensive private Lincoln collections of their own. (Feb. 12-Dec. 31, 2009).
• The National Museum of Health & Medicine’s Abraham Lincoln: The Final Casualty of the War, a look at Lincoln’s final hours and the physicians who tended to him, with artifacts including the bullet that ended his life and a drawing of his deathbed scene. (Feb. 13-TBD).

Lincoln’s role in the abolition of slavery is explored through discussions and special exhibitions coinciding with Living the Legacy. The parallel lives of Frederick Douglass and Abraham Lincoln will be discussed at the National Archives on Jan. 22, while author John Stauffer will discuss contributions of African Americans during the Civil War at the Martin Luther King Jr. Memorial Library on Feb. 3. The National Archives will display the original Emancipation Proclamation, signed by Lincoln, for five days (Feb. 12-16). The National Postal Museum will mount a special exhibition, Lincoln, Slavery and the Civil War (March 6-8). As part of the annual observance of Emancipation Day, Howard University will bring together a group of scholars, authors and students for a national symposium, Emancipation and Race in the Age of Lincoln, April 16-18.

Lincoln-themed concerts, exhibitions, lectures, tours and performances are also on tap at institutions including Bethesda’s Adventure Theatre, the Corcoran Gallery, the Church of the Epiphany, Historic Congressional Cemetery, the DC Public Library, National Museum of the U.S. Navy, the Washington National Cathedral, Shakespeare Theatre Company, National Gallery of Art, the Jewish Historical Society of Greater Washington, the African-American Civil War Museum, Hillwood Museum Estate & Gardens, the Bureau of Engraving and Printing, the Crusor Family Historical Research Corporation and Washington Photo Safari.

Hotels throughout the region are also getting in the spirit of the promotion with creative Lincoln-inspired packages. Travelers can book a stay in the “Lincoln Bedroom” at The Madison, a Loews Hotel, and receive a set of towels personalized with “I slept in the Lincoln Bedroom,” a copy of the Gettysburg Address, a book by Doris Kearns Goodwin and breakfast in bed for two, starting at $809 per night. The Fairmont Washington, D.C.’s Honest Abe Package includes a map directing guests to the Lincoln Memorial, a package of Lincoln Logs for children and full American breakfast for a five-dollar bill in the hotel’s restaurant, Juniper, starting at $209. The Hyatt Regency Washington has partnered with Ford’s Theatre to offer packages that include two premium seats to a production at the theatre, a book of Lincoln legends and Kentucky Bourbon truffles, starting at $213 per night. The Hyatt is also appealing to family travelers with a “History on Foot” package including four tickets to a Ford’s Theatre walking tour, plus the book and truffles, starting at $167 per night.

Restaurants are also offering special cocktails and menu items that honor Honest Abe, including a featured dinner entrée priced at $18.09 at Mie N Yu, where diners can also order an “Abe-hat-tan” cocktail, made with Knob Creek Bourbon, which hails from Lincoln’s boyhood home in Kentucky. At Hank’s Oyster Bar, diners can sample one of the president’s favorite dishes, scalloped oysters, which will be featured on the menu throughout the celebration.

To promote Living the Legacy, Destination DC and Cultural Tourism DC have developed a print brochure and dedicated website, lincolnindc.com, providing a complete outline of events and a booking engine for hotel reservations. The site also includes information about ongoing events and evergreen locations such as Lincoln Park, the Lincoln Memorial and Madame Tussauds, Washington, DC.

Living the Legacy is supported by Metro, which will print and distribute 60,000 copies of the brochure. Metro will also provide signage in railcars, buses and in stations during the promotional period.

For more information, visit lincolnindc.com.

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The American Experience Foundation, a 501(c)(3) public charity, develops national programs that educate the public about the arts, culture, American democracy, and the unique heritage of Washington, DC.

Destination DC, the lead destination marketing organization for the nation’s capital, is a private, non¬profit membership organization of nearly 1,000 businesses committed to marketing the area as a premier global convention, tourism and special events destination with a special emphasis on the arts, cultural and historic communities.

Cultural Tourism DC and its members affirm the importance of history and culture to local neighborhoods and the city’s economic prosperity by developing, delivering, and celebrating real experiences for area residents and visitors.

Metro is the world-class public transit system for the National Capital Region, providing safe, reliable, convenient transportation to millions of residents and visitors. To learn how to use Metrobus or Metrorail to reach any of the dozens of events and happenings that are part of Lincoln Bicentennial, visit the Trip Planner at MetroOpensDoors.com. Hours: Mon.-Thur. 5am-12mid, Fri. 5am-3am, Sat. 7am-3am, Sun 7am-12mid.