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Abraham Lincoln Library & Museum

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Located on the beautiful campus of Lincoln Memorial University in Harrogate, Tennessee, the Abraham Lincoln Library and Museum (ALLM) houses one of the finest private collections of Lincoln and Civil War material in the world. More than 35,000 artifacts, manuscripts, photos, and rare books fill its seven permanent exhibit galleries, two vaults, and two reading rooms, an outdoor Pioneer Village, and its award-winning Lincoln Learning Lab for children.

Highlights include:

  • Abraham Lincoln's ebony walking stick
  • the Lincoln family's tea set, used in their Springfield home
  • the only photograph of Abraham Lincoln's father, Thomas Lincoln
  • more than 100 documents handwritten or signed by Lincoln
  • decorations from Lincoln's coffin
  • a lock of Lincoln's hair
  • a portrait of Mary Todd Lincoln painted by her niece, Katherine Todd Helm
  • a corner cupboard made by Lincoln's father for the family's Kentucky home
  • original Civil War firearms, swords, uniforms, and flags
  • the signal lantern and speaking trumpet from the Civil War battleship USS Monitor
  • a carriage belonging to Secretary of State William H. Seward
  • 197 works of statuary, paintings, engravings, etchings, and drawings; includes works by Gutzon Borglum (of Mount Rushmore fame), Daniel Chester French (the sculptor responsible for the statue in the Lincoln Memorial), and two portraits by Thomas Buchanan Read (noted 19th-century artist and poet)
  • 2,500 pamphlets from the Civil War era
  • 1,500 original pieces of Civil War sheet music

From summer 2019 until fall 2021, the ALLM underwent a 7 million dollar renovation. Included in that renovation was the addition of a children's learn-at-play room, the Lincoln Learning Lab, where children can play with puppets, make crafts, explore artifact discovery cabinets, and dress-up. Two new galleries feature the Carroll E. Rose Gallery of Civil War weaponry and the "Lincoln in American Memory" exhibit. A new elevator makes the museum more accessible, and a quiet room and sensory bags are available for those with sensory needs. Learn more about the museum's certification as a KultureCity Sensory Inclusive Certified Location by clicking this link. 

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The Last Days of Lincoln Gallery
The Abraham Lincoln Library and Museum contains seven galleries, one of which is the Last Days of Lincoln Gallery , featuring objects from both Lincoln's presidency and the assassination.
The Rose Gallery of Civil War Weaponry
Not only are there exhibits that tell the story of Lincoln's life, but the museum's galleries explore the individuals who participated in the Civil War. The Rose Gallery boasts an impressive display of Civil War weaponry and medical kits.
Pioneer Village with musicians
Special events are held at the museum and at the museum's nearby Pioneer Village, with structures reclaimed from the local area. Reenactors, craft demonstrations, and music events are held here.
The Robert L. Kincaid Endowed Research Center provides opportunities for scholars.
The Kincaid Research Center facilitates the research of Lincoln scholars.
Young Abraham Lincoln at Cabin
The Pioneer Village at the Abraham Lincoln Library and Museum allows visitors to explore a recreation of Lincoln's childhood cabin. Visitors can also learn about life in Appalachia at the time of the Civil War, as see an original 1850s tower.
Program coordinator reads to children.
On the first Tuesday of each month, the museum hosts a story and craft time for toddlers called "Tad's Tots."
Visitors look at artifacts in an exhibit.
Visitors can learn more about Lincoln's life before the presidency in the exhibit "Log Walls to Marble Halls."
Abraham Lincoln Library & Museum
Hours
Monday-Friday, 10 a.m.-5 p.m.; Saturday, 12 noon - 5 p.m.; Sunday, 1-5 p.m.
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For the most up-to-date hours and information, please contact Abraham Lincoln Library & Museum directly.

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