For the last couple of years, we have been designing and fabricating interpretive exhibits for the Lincoln Heritage Museum at Lincoln College. We teamed with theatrical specialist, Eidson Studios out of Little Rock, AR, to tell the story of our 16th President.

The design concept for the Museum incorporated two distinct galleries. The upper gallery experience pivoted on a thematic plot enhanced through modern theatrical techniques. This plot placed visitors in an environment where they witnessed a theoretical “life review” Lincoln may have had as he teetered on the edge between life and death for about eight hours after the fateful bullet entered his head. An ethereal Lincoln actually walks with visitors, while he and the visitors experience a review of the formative and substantial episodes of his life.

The lower gallery experience was designed to supplement and enhance the story being told in the upper gallery through the use of more traditional exhibit techniques. This gallery focused on the museum’s vast artifact collection. These artifacts were the true objects that were referenced in many portions of the story in the upper gallery.

This thematic concept allowed the design to bring to life the exhibit title: Learn from Lincoln, Live like Lincoln. Visitors were learning from Lincoln as they experienced his life alongside him. As part of a “mindscape,” visitors were allowed to walk a mile in Lincoln’s shoes and think the thoughts Lincoln may have had throughout his life. In essence, visitors could metaphorically “live like Lincoln” and experience “values worthy of imitation.”

Our interpretive planners spent a great deal of time researching and working with Lincoln historians and other experts through the Museum to determine which of the many stories told about Lincoln were true and would lend themselves to this type of storytelling. Because all exhibit text and audio were composed of documented first-person narratives a layer of complexity was added to the research process, which ultimately made the exhibit the unique and fascinating experience it became.

The Lincoln Heritage Museum hosted its grand reopening April 26. The articles published leading up to the event and afterwards offer glimpses into what you may expect should you travel to Lincoln, IL to Learn from Lincoln, Live like Lincoln. (One reviewer, Erika Holst, said the experience “is arguably more cutting-edge even than the Abraham Lincoln Presidential Museum here in Springfield.” Wow!)

The Museum is open Monday-Friday: 9:00 am – 4 pm and Saturday: 1:00pm – 4 pm. Their address is 300 Keokuk Street, Lincoln, IL 62656. For all other information, visit their website or Facebook page.