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. We owe a huge debt of gratitude to the City of Pittsfield for their ongoing support of all our projects. 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.
The Looking for Lincoln Heritage Coalition is a not-for profit organization dedicated to working collaboratively with local, state and national partners across the Abraham Lincoln National Heritage Area to tell the quality stories of Abraham Lincoln’s life and times, to provide high-quality experiences for visitors, economic opportunities for communities and to improve the quality of life for residents. Looking for Lincoln is the coordinating entity for the 43-county National Heritage Area. As the 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 heritage-based initiatives and innovation. The Abe Lincoln Project is indebted to the Looking for Lincoln Heritage Coalition and staff for their tremendous support.
In the past 21 years, the Abe Lincoln Project has hosted symposiums on Lincoln’s connections to the county, presented the 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 the Lincoln Days Civil War Reenactment. Lincoln Days was chosen as one of three signature events supported by the Abraham Lincoln National Heritage Area. Members have represented Pike County at communities and events across the heritage area. Our board works with the Looking for Lincoln/Abraham Lincoln National Heritage Area on community preservation activities and work on community revitalization and enhancement.
We have wonderful and hard-working board members in Kathy Zimmerman, Alice Cripe, Bob Norris, Joe Winner, Angie Hittner, Krystal Musgrove. As the Abe Lincoln Project celebrates our 21st 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 the American Civil War.
For more information contact:
The Abe Lincoln Project / Looking for Lincoln in Pike County
PO Box 62 | Pittsfield, IL 62363