Director’s Letter
Dear Friends,
With a heavy heart, I want to share that our dear friend – and a resident of the Armed Forces Retirement Home – George Wellman died last month. George was a faithful volunteer at the Cottage for many years and his quick smile at our programs and events made even the longest days feel worth it.
If you’ve visited these grounds in the last 20 or so years, you’ve been impacted by George’s keen eye and attention to detail. But, you likely never knew it! With a background in surveillance, George worked behind the scenes and in his quiet way to make sure we were aware of what he’d noticed – the changing leaves, a confusing sign, or a tree that needed a little more attention.
George was also a poet, and at least once a month, I’d open my inbox to find a special verse in memory of his beloved companion Gwen who died in 2017, or reflections on a holiday that was specifically meaningful to him, many of which we’ve shared with you in past editions of our newsletter. We will miss all that George meant to our Soldiers’ Home community, especially his warm smile and his eagerness to be of service in any way he could. We love you, George!
Sincerely,
Callie Hawkins
CEO & Executive Director
President Lincoln’s Cottage
Homecoming was our Biggest & Best One Yet!
2,300 of you graced our grounds for our Cottage family day! It was our biggest crowd ever, with more activities to nurture the whole child, as part of our Semiquincentenial commitment to encourage feelings of belonging.
We have fabulous pictures from the event by the talented Natasha Lamalle. Please credit her if you use them, and tag her and us (@natashalamallephotography, @lincolnscottage) if you share on Instagram.
See them HERE.
Our New Cottage Ornament is HERE and it’s the GOAT
Young Tad Lincoln had two pet goats, Nanny and Nanko, while living at the Cottage. Our 2024 ornament was created in honor this trio of friends.
Purchase HERE.
Watch A Model Leader Interview with Callie on Leadership
Awards and Recognition
President Lincoln’s Cottage was delighted to be selected by the American Alliance of Museums (AAM) as one of 40 cultural institutions across the country to participate in the Museum Social Impact in Practice cohort.
As part of this project, we will engage in a multi-year study to better measure our impact and engage with our colleagues and audiences.
Read the press release from AAM HERE.
President Lincoln’s Cottage in the News
- NBC-7 promoted Homecoming as a Top Thing to Do
- Time Magazine covered Lover of Men, a documentary for which we were interviewed.
- KidFriendlyDC promoted Homecoming
- LitHub mentioned the Cottage and our exhibit Prison Reimagined in a bio of a judge for their latest short fiction prize.
SUPPORT PRESIDENT LINCOLN’S COTTAGE
Support our educational programs, preservation efforts and public events by making a contribution to President Lincoln’s Cottage. Donate online today.
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