Springfield, IL (CAPITOL CITY NOW) – The Gettysburg Address will be on display at the Abraham Lincoln Presidential Library and Museum (ALPLM) from now until Dec. 1 of this year, after which it will be replaced by a signed copy of the Emancipation Proclamation.
However, in previous years, the document was displayed for only 10 days to limit its exposure to light. This year, thanks to new protective technology, it can remain on view much longer. The museum’s new smart-glass display case can shift from clear to opaque in seconds when no one is looking at the fragile document, dramatically reducing light exposure. That means the unique Lincoln document can remain on display longer while ensuring it is preserved for generations to come. Being one of the most famous speeches ever given with its stirring prose and historic impact, have been studied by everyone from schoolchildren to scholars.
“In just a few short minutes, Abraham Lincoln offered the nation a path forward – one dedicated to liberty and equality,” said Christina Shutt, executive director of the Abraham Lincoln Presidential Library and Museum. Shutt also stated that “Seeing his carefully crafted words in his own handwriting reminds us that liberty and unity are not abstract ideals. They are responsibilities we inherit and must protect.”
Lincoln delivered the Gettysburg Address on Nov. 19, 1863, at the dedication of a national cemetery for the thousands of Union soldiers killed at the Battle of Gettysburg. It opens with the famous phrase “Four score and seven years ago” and finishes by describing the Civil War as a battle to preserve government “of the people, by the people, for the people.”
Only five handwritten copies of the Gettysburg Address still exist. In addition to the ALPLM’s copy, the other copies are in The White House, Cornell University and the final two are at the Library of Congress. Those institutions rarely exhibit their copies to the general public.
The ALPLM, however, displays its copy each year around the anniversary of Lincoln delivering the speech.
For those unable to visit in person, the ALPLM’s website offers an interactive, in-depth look at the document, its history, and how it differs from other versions. The site also provides educational resources for teachers and parents, a photo gallery, and links to additional
information: www.PresidentLincoln.Illinois.gov/GettysburgAddress.
