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Welcome to the Iowa Abraham Lincoln Bicentennial
Commission. On April 20, 2007, Governor Chester J.
Culver signed House File 826 establishing the Iowa
Abraham Lincoln Bicentennial Commission (IALBC). The
IALBC is directed to plan, coordinate, and
administer activities and programs relating to the
commemoration of the bicentennial of the birth of
President Abraham Lincoln.
On February 12, 2009, the nation will celebrate the
200th birthday of President Abraham Lincoln. The
official bicentennial celebrations will run from
February 12, 2008, to February 12, 2010. On a
national level, the Abraham Lincoln Bicentennial
Commission is planning several major initiatives,
including:
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The rededication of
the Lincoln Memorial
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The redesign of the
Lincoln penny
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A televised Lincoln
documentary
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A national traveling
exhibition
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Educational
materials for schools
In conjunction with
these national activities, states and communities
have been invited to plan their own celebrations.
The IALBC on Feb. 11, 2008, marked the official
kick-off of two years of events throughout the state
commemorating President Lincoln’s life and legacy:
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A noon event in the
Capitol Rotunda featured a reading of a
proclamation signed by Governor Chet Culver, and
a Civil War Musical Interlude followed by a
costumed performance by Lincoln presenter, Stan
De Haan.
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That evening, IALBC
gave an overview of the Commission and announced
the availability of community event endorsements
at the State Historical Building. A Civil War
Musical Interlude was followed by a costumed
performance by Lincoln Presenter, Lee Williams.
Iowa’s announcement
coincided with the National ALBC’s “Official
Bicentennial Kickoff” inaugural events in Kentucky,
where Lincoln was born Feb. 12, 1809, in a log
cabin. All 50 states have joined the Abraham Lincoln
Bicentennial Commission to hold events commemorating
Lincoln’s life and legacy.
Please consider this as
an invitation to get involvement in the Iowa
observance and help preserve the legacy of our
greatest president and educate Iowans about his
remarkable achievements.
Please send your ideas,
plans, and questions regarding the IABLC to
Cyndi.Pederson@iowa.gov. We look forward to working
with you to ensure that the national bicentennial
celebration includes an Iowa commemorative of the
accomplishments of President Abraham Lincoln.

On
February 12, 2009, Iowans will unite to celebrate
the 200th birthday of Abraham Lincoln. All states
will honor him, but our citizens have a special
kinship to Lincoln. Although he never lived in Iowa,
he owned more land here than in any other state. He
visited and spoke in Iowa several times, and later
appointed one Iowan to his presidential cabinet and
another to the United States Supreme Court. His
oldest son, Robert Todd Lincoln, married the
daughter of Senator James Harlan of Mount Pleasant,
and spent many summers here with his family.
Abraham Lincoln had friends and political allies in
Iowa. One of his most important trial cases involved
a bridge at Davenport, gaining national prominence
and setting legal precedence. During a visit to
Council Bluffs in 1859, Lincoln stood on a bluff of
the Missouri river and looked west, envisioning a
great transcontinental railroad. As president, he
signed this into law on July 1, 1862.
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Bicentennial Kickoff
Take a look
at
pictures from our February 12, 2008
Bicentennial Kickoff.
Iowa - Lincoln Facts
Learn
more about the connections between our 16th
president and the Hawkeye State
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Bridge at Davenport,
IA
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Visit to Council
Bluffs, IA
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Harlan-Lincoln House
in Mount Pleasant, IA
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Lincoln in Dubuque,
IA
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Speech at
Burlington, IA
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Lincoln's Iowa Land
Holdings

Are you planning an
event commemorating the bicentennial event? Click
here to find out how to have your event endorsed.

Click HERE to see our current programs for upcoming
events
Did You Know?
Click here to learn more
fun Lincoln-Iowa fun facts
Lincoln Sites,
Click here to see photos
of various Lincoln-related sites
GRANT INFORMATION


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Iowa supported Abraham
Lincoln during his two presidential campaigns,
giving him a plurality of votes in each election.
Half of all eligible men in the state would see
military service during the Civil War, and his
Emancipation Proclamation of 1863 echoed Iowa’s
commitment to freedom for all. Brave Iowans
volunteered to fight battles far away from home, for
freedom. Because of Abraham Lincoln, Iowans fought
not only for the Union, but for the rights of
African-Americans.
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As the nation prospered,
both President Lincoln and the citizens of Iowa
recognized the unlimited opportunities in our state.
In July of 1862, Lincoln signed the Morrill Land
Grant Act, encouraging training in agriculture.
Taking the lead, the State Agricultural College and
Model Farm, now Iowa State University, became the
first land grant college in the nation. Lincoln’s
influence on Iowa is also commemorated today in the
State Capitol. Visitors walking up the western front
of the Statehouse are met by a statue depicting
President Lincoln and his young son, Tad. This
statue was given to all Iowans by our state’s young
people, paid for with funds raised by a statewide
penny drive, in honor of the 100th anniversary of
the Gettysburg Address.
We began our year-long
celebration of his birthday on February 11, 2008
with an official proclamation delivered at the
Capitol. And as governor, it is my wish that we
continue to honor our 16th president with our deeds,
working to advance the causes of freedom and justice
that he articulated and defended so well, on behalf
of every Iowan and American.
Chester J. Culver
Governor
State of Iowa
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Throughout
2009
History on the Move
Event: The Iowa Department of Cultural
Affairs takes a trailer with an interactive
Lincoln exhibit on the road.
February
12, 2010
Lincoln Birthday Celebration
State Historical Museum
Des Moines, Iowa |
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