“Lincoln: The Constitution and the Civil War” Exhibition Opens August 10

Saturday, August 10 will kick off six weeks of the “Lincoln: The Constitution and the Civil War” exhibition and activities to celebrate the sesquicentennial of the Civil War.  The exhibition is the result of a collaboration between the National Constitution Center and the America Library Association (ALA) with funding provided by the National Endowment for the Humanities.  Locally, the Independence Public Library and the Independence Historical Museum and Art Center have joined resources to bring the exhibit to Southeast Kansas.  Local activities have been created by the library and museum to enhance the themes of the exhibit:  Oath of Office, Divided, Bound, Dissent, and Legacy.  The exhibit and activities offer a new perspective on Abraham Lincoln with a focus on his struggle to meet the political and constitutional challenges of the Civil War. According to the ALA “the exhibition explores how Lincoln used the Constitution to confront three intertwined crises of the war—the secession of Southern states, slavery, and wartime civil liberties. Visitors will leave the exhibition with a more complete understanding of Lincoln as President and the Civil War as the nation’s gravest constitutional crisis.” 

The free exhibit opens at the museum on Saturday, August 10, when the oath of office is administered to Abraham Lincoln, portrayed by Lincoln enactor Troy Strahan.  Strahan, as Lincoln, will arrive at the museum by carriage and will deliver his first inaugural address from the museum steps.  Lincoln will be sworn in by Judge Roger Gossard, Chief Judge of the 14^th Judicial District. Lincoln enactor Troy Strahan was a lanky grade schooler when he became fascinated with Lincoln and learned that Abraham Lincoln was the tallest chief executive.  Strahan loved all things Lincoln; reading biographies and treatises, and researching every aspect of his life.  He has portrayed Lincoln for a wide variety of public, business, religious, non-profit and educational groups, including performing Presidential speeches and portraying Lincoln’s love of storytelling.  Strahan is a regular presenter at the Lincoln, Kansas, “Lincoln Days,” and is a member of the Lecompton Re-enactors. 

Additional activities on Saturday include the start of a silent auction for civil war era items. The auction  will continue through to the end of the exhibit.  Kids stories by given by Abraham Lincoln and carriage rides with Abraham Lincoln will be provided by Frank Crebase.  These activities are all free to the public.  Buersken's BBQ will sell meals.  Drinks and cookies will be sold by the museum.  Museum tours and live music will cap off the events of the day.

On Monday, August 16, at 6:30 p.m.,  Attorney General Derek Schmidt and Senator Jeff King will be featured in a debate over secession at ICC West.  The debate will be moderated by Dr. Dan Barwick, President of Independence Community College. The event is free to the public.  Senator King will discuss the importance of a union of states versus a union over states and the rights of nullification. Attorney General Schmidt will discuss the importance of the federal government and its power over states. The context of both will be during, and leading up to, the Civil War.

The exhibition and activities will continue through September 20.  Events will include Civil War portrayals by Michelle Martin, Pastor Dee Williamston, Dr. Lanna Reeve, a readers theatre, two Kansas Humanities Talks Series, and a panel discussion on the Rebel Creek Massacre.  The exhibition will close on September 20 with a full day of activities, ending with Strahan again portraying Lincoln and delivering the Gettysburg Address.

All Lincoln activities are free to the public.  For more information contact the Independence Public Library at 331-3030 or the Independence Historical Museum and Art Center at 331-3515.