The mission of the Abe Lincoln Project / Looking for Lincoln in Pike County is to educate our community and tourists about the history of Abraham Lincoln in Pike County and to preserve the county's vast Lincoln Heritage.
The Abe Lincoln Project was incorporated in 2000 as a 501 (c)3 not-for-profit organization. Our focus is on education and heritage tourism. Through our efforts, the City of Pittsfield was accepted into the Looking for Lincoln Heritage Coalition in 2005 when our Abe Lincoln’s Talking Houses Tour of Pittsfield was developed. Through the efforts of the Abe Lincoln Project, all of Pike County is now in the Looking for Lincoln Heritage Coalition and the Abraham Lincoln National Heritage Area.
Under the coordination of The Looking for Lincoln Heritage Coalition - a consortium of central Illinois sites and communities - along with the crucial support of the Illinois Department of Tourism, The Abraham Lincoln Presidental Library and museum, and The National Park Service, residents can experience the Abraham Lincoln National Heritage area and walk in Lincoln's footsteps. The Coalition and the National Heritage area cover the same 43-counties in central Illinois and the mission is to preserve interpret and promote the heritage and culture of the area in the context of Lincoln's Illinois. The Coalition and the Heritage Area seeks to educate, develop and interpret visitor- ready sites, create a living history experience and chronicle the evolution of the landscape and extend these opportunities to the widest audience possible. As a result of the heritage area's work, Pittsfield and other communities in Pike County and across the region understand their history and appreciate how life here has evolved over time. Heritage area partners work collaboratively to preserve significant resources and strengthen our local and regional economies through heriage based initiatives and innovations.
In the past 23 years, the Abe Lincoln Project has hosted symposiums on Lincoln's connections to the county, presented an original musical "Mr. Lincoln Comes to Pittsfield" written by Ken Bradbury, conducted Civil War Living History Fairs in the county schools, and since 2001 hosted an annual Lincoln Days Civil War Reenactment with focus on Lincoln as wartime president. Lincoln Days was chosen as one of 5 Signature Events supported by the Abraham Lincoln National Heritage Area. Out book,
The Lincoln Connection" was awarded the Illinois State Historical Society's 2020 Award of Excellence. We provided research for Dr. Wayne Temple's book, "Lincoln's Springfield/Pittsfield Connection". We have installed 13 Looking for Lincoln Wayside Exhibits and Talking Houses to tell Lincoln's story in Pittsfield.
Members have represented Pike County at communities and events all across the heritage area. Our board works with Looking for Lincoln/Abraham Lincoln National Heritage area on community preservation activities and work on community revitalization and enhancement. As the Abe Lincoln Project celebrates our 24th Anniversary, we look forward to continuing our efforts to promote Pike County's connection to America's greatest president and to commemorate the role of Pike County in America's Civil War.
For more information or to make a donation please contact:
The Abe Lincoln Project / Looking for Lincoln in Pike County
PO Box 62 | Pittsfield, IL 62366
phone: 217-285-6995