Department of Parks
Lincoln Marriage to be Celebrated

FRANKFORT, Ky. – On June 3, 2006, the parents of Abraham Lincoln will exchange vows once again at the same spot where they first married two centuries ago.

Lincoln Homestead State Park will play host to the nuptials of Thomas Lincoln and Nancy Hanks, which kick off the Abraham Lincoln Bicentennial in Kentucky. A reception will immediately follow. The marriage marks the beginning of the three-year Abraham Lincoln Bicentennial Celebration that culminates with the bicentennial of Lincoln’s birth.

“The success of the Washington County celebration will set a standard for the rest of the Lincoln Bicentennial,” said Elaine Simms, coordinator of the Lincoln Wedding.  “The Lincoln Wedding is the beginning of a series of celebrations of the life of one of America’s greatest men.  We are very proud that Washington County is playing such an important role in honoring Abraham Lincoln and I want to thank the community for really rallying around this event.”

The day begins at 9 a.m. EDT with the opening of “The American Experience.” Guests of all ages will enjoy this extraordinary gathering of first person characters, including George Washington, Thomas Walker, George Rogers Clark and Isaac Shelby.  Visitors also will enjoy demonstrations by a wagoneer, a flintnapper, a shoemaker and a spinner, as well as period music and a hands-on exhibition of log cabin construction.

At 1 p.m., an outdoor performance titled “Dearly Beloved: The Vows of a Lincoln Legacy,” will debut, telling the story of the simple union between two people whose son would become one of the world’s great leaders.

All events are free.  There will, however, be fees for parking, and for the reception.  Reservations for the reception are encouraged. For more information, visit www.lincolnhanks.net or call the Springfield/Washington County Chamber of Commerce at (859) 336-0052, ext. 3 or Lincoln Homestead State Park at (859) 336-7461.

The chamber, the Department of Parks, and the Kentucky Historical Society are sponsoring the events.

Lincoln Homestead Park is located five miles north of Springfield on KY 438. The site includes the original house in which Nancy Hanks stayed while she was being courted by Thomas Lincoln.

The Kentucky State Park System is composed of 52 state parks plus an interstate park shared with Virginia. The Department of Parks, an agency of the Commerce Cabinet, operates 17 resort parks with lodges -- more than any other state. Each year, Kentucky parks draw 7 million visitors and contribute $317 million to the economy. For more information on Kentucky parks, visit our Web site at http://www.parks.ky.gov