Issue date: 2/11/09 Section: News

A portrait of President Abraham Lincoln's statue at the Lincoln-Douglas Debate Museum at the Coles County Fairgrounds. (Eric Hiltner / The Daily Eastern News)

He's in piggy banks, lost between couch cushions, stuck in loafer shoes and he freed the slaves. As a president, and a penny, Lincoln is an iconic figure throughout the country, but especially Illinois.

Thursday is Abraham Lincoln's 200th birthday and on Friday the state of Illinois will celebrate by closing all government agencies, including Eastern, for the holiday.

Most know the basic history of ol' honest Abe: he was extremely tall, his Emancipation Proclamation freed the slaves in the south, he kept the union together and he was the first president to be assassinated.

In a 2005 poll conducted by The Washington Post, 130 professors of economics, history, law and political science Lincoln was ranked as the one of the greatest presidents, second only to Washington.

While he wasn't born in Illinois, Lincoln worked as a lawyer and was a member of the Illinois General Assembly.

In 1847 he was the defending lawyer in the Matson Slave Trial, which was held in the Charleston Courthouse, and in 1858 he returned for the legendary Lincoln-Douglas Debate held at the Coles County Fairgrounds.

Lincoln's impact on the local community can be seen at a variety of places in the area surrounding Charleston.

The Lincoln Log Cabin State Historic site in Lerna has a replica of Thomas and Sarah Bush Lincoln's cabin open year round.

To celebrate the bicentennial they will host an open house and living history program Thursday.

While driving east down Route 16 it's hard to miss the world's tallest statue of Lincoln at the Lincoln Springs Resort.

At looming 72-feet tall the resort also has 12-life-sized statues exhibited in their garden.

Starting at the beginning of the month the resort has held a daily trivia contest with questions relating to Lincoln, the first place prize is a miniature replica of statue and $150.

They are also displaying a mural painting of the debate, done by a local artist.

David Kirsch, the chief facility operator at the resort, is an admirer of Lincoln's accomplishments.

"The impact that the man had on the whole country is massive and we are where we are today because of his determination," said Kirsch.

The City of Charleston also pays tribute to Lincoln's influence by displaying pieces of art in the downtown area. A mural portraying his freight train trip to Charleston can be seen on a wall at Fifth Street between Monroe and Jackson avenues. Metal portrait sculptures of Douglas and Lincoln also decorate City Hall, 520 Jackson Ave.

Charleston also boasts the Lincoln Douglas Debate Museum, the only museum in Illinois that retraces the debates. It is located at the Coles County Fairgrounds, 416 West Madison Ave.

Lincoln is part of many aspects of everyday life.

Over 200 billion pennies with Lincolns image are currently in circulation, making his profile one of the most recognizable in the country. The first Lincoln pennies were minted in 1909, and since then Lincoln's likeness has been popping up everywhere.

"Futurama," "The Late Show" and "Bill and Ted's Excellent Adventure" have all featured Abe Lincoln look-alikes.

"People see him everywhere, the media, money; he's so distinct," said Kara Batts, a senior history major.

Batts, who is a member of the History Club, likes the fact that people are able to recognize a historic figure when he appears in movies, books and advertisements.

To help celebrate the bicentennial birthday, the history department invited professor Jennifer Weber, an assistant professor of history at the University of Kansas who specializes in Civil War studies, to speak at 7 p.m. Feb. 20 in the Doudna Lecture Hall. Weber will talk about Lincoln and the Copperheads, who were northern Democrats who opposed the Civil War.

Jennifer Sauerwein, a senior history major, said she believes the reason Lincoln was a great president was because of the problems throughout his term.

"There were so many critical issues he dealt with," she said.


Emily Steele can be reached at 581-7942 or at DENnewsdesk@eiu.edu.

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