Lincoln The Man Before the Myth
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Our 16th president spent more than 30 years in Illinois. See where he met his wife, raised four sons, bought a home, practiced law, served in the Illinois House of Representatives, was elected president and came home to his final resting place.
I say “try.” If we never try, we shall never succeed.
~ Abraham Lincoln
PHOTO GALLERY
Take a historic journey through Lincoln's time in Illinois by visiting the places that continue to shape his legacy–even today.
Celebrate Lincoln's 200th Birthday
Abraham Lincoln was born on February 12, 1809 and made Illinois his home. Lincoln spent 30 years honing his skills, touching many Illinois communities in his role as a lawyer and politician, before heading off to the White House as the nation's 16th president. Fittingly, Illinois will play proud host to numerous Abraham Lincoln Bicentennial festivities in 2009.
Honor Abe's 200th birthday with statewide special events and visit the places in Illinois where the president made history and continues to inspire today.
Lincoln Trivia
10 Fast Facts About Honest Abe
- 1. Abraham Lincoln was the first president to have a beard while in office, growing it at the suggestion of a precocious 11-year-old girl who wrote him a letter.
- 2. Lincoln was the tallest president, standing 6’4”.
- 3. Abe carried important letters, bills and notes in his signature stovepipe hat.
- 4. As a presidential candidate, Lincoln was known as the “Railsplitter,” a reference to the days when as a youth he made fence rails by splitting poles with an axe.
- 5. Abe was an engaging storyteller and jokester.
- 6. Lincoln was a fan of writer-poet Edgar Allan Poe.
- 7. Lincoln received a patent in 1849 for a system he designed to adjust the buoyancy of steamboats.
- 8. Mary Todd Lincoln hosted séances in the White House, which the president attended.
- 9. Lincoln relayed to his wife and friends a dream he had three days before his death about being assassinated. He was the first U.S. president to be assassinated.
- 10. The Lincoln penny was issued in 1909 to commemorate Abe’s 100th birthday and was the first American coin to bear a president’s image on its face.
