Department of Parks
Improvements Made At State Park Historic Sites With Lincoln Grant

FRANKFORT, Ky. – Six Kentucky State Parks have new or improved exhibits related to Abraham Lincoln or the Civil War thanks to a $150,000 grant from the Kentucky Lincoln Bicentennial Commission.

The exhibits were completed during 2008 at state parks that have ties to Lincoln or the Civil War.

“The mission of these bicentennial exhibits is to promote the Commonwealth of Kentucky as the birthplace of Abraham Lincoln as well as fostering a better understanding of the cultural, educational and political connections to his native state,” said Brooks Howard, assistant director of recreation and historic parks. “We believe that these exhibits along with the Lincoln Heritage Trail exhibits are providing so much better interpretation and providing learning opportunities for our adult visitors and school children of all ages and grade levels.”

The six parks and the projects are:

LINCOLN HOMESTEAD STATE PARK at Springfield received an outdoor graph kiosk housed under a “log” type structure with a double-sided interpretative panel.  “The Pioneer Spirit” or “The American Dream” tells the story of the western movement and the Lincoln family’s move from Virginia to Kentucky.   The second side highlights the Lincoln family, tells of Thomas Lincoln and Nancy Hanks, the Berry family and the preparation for and the marriage of Thomas and Nancy in June of 1806.

OLD FORT HARROD STATE PARK at Harrodsburg received an exterior graphic identifying the Lincoln Marriage Temple. Inside the Temple there is reader rail with text about the marriage cabin and the history surrounding the cabin.  There also is a plexiglass enclosure that allows entry into the marriage cabin and plexiglass covers for the windows making the interior more visible.

PERRYVILLE BATTLEFIELD STATE HISTORIC SITE at Perryville received a kiosk to support a computer monitor for visitors to conduct research on ancestors who served as Civil War soldiers, and a laminated cabinet for audio-visual equipment, a monitor and benches to view a video on the largest battle of the Civil War in Kentucky.

WHITE HALL STATE HISTORIC SITE near Richmond received a double-sided outdoor graphic kiosk.  The front side tells about the life of Cassius Marcellus Clay, his emancipation newspaper The True American, his friendship with Lincoln and his appointment as minister to the Russia Court.  The second side brings in his wife Mary Jane, the building of Clermont/White Hall and aerial photos of the property.

JEFFERSON DAVIS STATE HISTORIC SITE at Fairview received an interpretive panel titled “The Cabins of Civil War Presidents Jefferson Davis and Abraham Lincoln.”  It presents the similarities and differences between the log cabin birthplaces of the two presidents, their parents and the two properties.  There is also the name of the park in large letters over the entrance of the visitor center.

COLUMBUS-BELMONT STATE PARK at Columbus now has a four-minute video to view on a monitor with a laminate cabinet to house the DVD player also two directional signs to the museum.

For more information about these and other state parks, visit www.parks.ky.gov

On February 12, 2009, the nation will celebrate the 200^th anniversary of the birth of the man many consider to be the greatest leader in the history of this country – Abraham Lincoln. The sixteenth president of the United States was born near Hodgenville, Kentucky, and the commonwealth is playing a pivotal role in the national commemoration.

The Kentucky Abraham Lincoln Bicentennial Commission was established in 2004 to organize and coordinate the state’s many commemorative activities. It is administered by the Kentucky Historical Society and its mission is to:

• Establish Lincoln as a Kentuckian on both a state and national level, by relating the critical role that Kentucky and Kentuckians played in the life and career of Abraham Lincoln
• Incorporate the relevance of the Lincoln story into educational programming across Kentucky
• Strengthen the long-term legacy of Kentucky’s Lincoln sites and museums
• Enhance Kentucky’s heritage tourism industry

--30--

The Kentucky State Park System is composed of 53 state parks plus an interstate park shared with Virginia. The Department of Parks, an agency of the Tourism, Arts and Heritage 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