DIRECTOR’S LETTER
Dear Friends,
This month, we’re focusing on preservation of President Lincoln’s Cottage, which makes this authentic space available to the public 362 days per year. When you donate to President Lincoln’s Cottage, a 501(c)(3) public charity, you are preserving “the Cradle of the Emancipation Proclamation” and enabling us to provide transformative experiences for tens of thousands of visitors each year. We remain the only National Monument in the entire country that doesn’t receive federal operating support, so it is not an exaggeration to say we could not do any of this without you. Thank you.
We are efficient and conscientious with the donations we receive. In the past year, your support enabled us to: design a new visitor orientation experience; begin an expansion and redesign of our award-winning Debating Emancipation program for students; and restore historic windows and doors in the Cottage and Visitor Education Center, discovering new artifacts in the process. We also concluded the first phase of a groundbreaking study that seeks to prove the depth of experience our guests report anecdotally. You can read about this work on our website and in articles written for two national associations, the American Alliance of Museums, and the National Trust. The “Lincoln shiver” speaks to the power of this place to touch each person who enters. With your support, we’ll implement the next priority projects in our strategic plan, including new research on historical figures, preservation of the Cottage, and a neuroscientific study on the impact of place and story on individuals. As ever, we strive to do our work at the highest level, as evidenced by the recognition the Cottage has received.
Thank you for entrusting us with this remarkable place.
With gratitude,
Happy Preservation Month: 10 Preservation Projects throughout 10 Years
It’s our 10-year anniversary year, and to celebrate, we’re rolling out lots of “Top Ten” lists. Since May is National Preservation Month, our Senior Preservationist Jeff Larry compiled a list of “10 Preservation Projects in 10 Years.” Read on for the full run-down of 10 important preservation and restoration projects at the Cottage and Robert H. Smith Visitor Education Center.
Bourbon & Bluegrass
Bourbon & Bluegrass, day two: Sunday, May 20 (Kimberly Goldwein Photography)
Thanks to everyone who helped make our fourth-annual Bourbon & Bluegrass festival a success! This year we hosted over 1,000 people who sipped, lounged, and listened to bluegrass on Lincoln’s lawn. Thanks to you, we raised nearly $80,000. All proceeds raised go towards preservation efforts at the Cottage.
Special thanks to Woodford Reserve for the bourbon, Right Proper Brewing Company for the beer, Geppetto Catering, Petworth Citizen, Sugarplum Tents, Kimberly Goldwein Photography, plus all of our artists: Moose Jaw, the Too Soons (feat. members of By & By), the Fly Birds and Justin Trawick and The Common Good, for providing the tunes.
Have feedback on how we can make it even more special next year? Email your thoughts to [email protected].
Calling All Young Abolitionists: SOS International Summit 2018 Registration Open
Do you know any young abolitionists who want to make a difference? President Lincoln’s Cottage is now accepting applications for the 2018 Students Opposing Slavery (SOS) International Summit — which was featured in Teen Vogue and on CNN last summer. The Summit will place at the Cottage from June 25-29, 2018.
During the Summit, participants will:
- Continue Abraham Lincoln’s fight for freedom
- Create an international network of young abolitionists to develop brave ideas around ending slavery in our time
- Engage with modern abolitionists working to end human trafficking
- Participate in off-site excursions that build teamwork and awareness around the modern fight to end slavery — which includes a ropes course, and other outings around Washington, DC
The 2018 Students Opposing Slavery International Summit is open to students age 15-18. Participation in the Summit is free and lunch is provided each day. Hours are approximately 9:00-4:30 Monday-Thursday and 9:00-9:00 on Friday. Final program schedule will be shared with participating students in June.
We have a few spots remaining for local youth participants. APPLY HERE.
Help Nominate President Lincoln’s Cottage as “Best Outdoor Event Space”
President Lincoln’s Cottage has been nominated for Best Outdoor Event Space by Unique Venues. Help us claim the top spot! Vote by June 29th, and add why the Cottage is your number one pick. VOTE NOW.
Thank you for your support!
TEN-YEAR ANNIVERSARY AND SAVE THE DATES
This year marks 10 years of President Lincoln’s Cottage being open to the public — celebrate with us!
To celebrate 10 years, we’ll be offering tickets at select dates for only $10.
Join us on Sunday, June 10th for “Bring a Member” day! If you tag along with a Team Lincoln member, you’re eligible for the $10 admission, and members new and old receive a FREE gift from our Museum Store. Not sure if you’re a member? Ask! Email Nathaniel Hodges at [email protected].
June is membership month at the Cottage, and we’ll be highlighting various Team Lincoln members throughout the month on our social media. Follow along to see how they first got involved, and why they give: @LincolnsCottage on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram.
UPCOMING DATES:
Petworth Arts Fest
Join us for the first annual Petworth Arts Fest – A FREE celebration of Art in the Park for all to enjoy. This new artsy event, hosted by the Petworth Arts Collaborative, Friends of Petworth Park, and President Lincoln’s Cottage, will feature various professional DC artists, live installations and performances to engage neighbors and our surrounding community through the ARTS. Don’t miss President Lincoln’s Cottage’s 10-foot-tall Lincoln hat!
Where: The basketball court at the Petworth Recreation Center at 801 Taylor St NW, Washington, DC
When: Saturday, June 2nd, 4-9PM
Dates
Petworth Arts Fest: Saturday, June 2nd
Bring a Member Day: Sunday, June 10th
National Selfie Day: Thursday, June 21st- come take a selfie with Abe!
NEWS and AWARDS
- President Lincoln’s Cottage took over the National Trust for Historic Preservation’s @SavingPlaces Instagram account for the day on May 16th to highlight the “orginALs: Hidden Objects” exhibit, just in time for Preservation Month. The Trust also published a blog post on the exhibit, too.
- Erin Carlson Mast and Nathaniel Hodges appeared on The Circus Life podcast to talk Bourbon & Bluegrass with Sunday’s headliner, Justin Trawick.
- President Lincoln’s Cottage was mentioned in the Irish Post’s article about Abraham Lincoln’s Irish White House circle revealed.
- A teacher from our Teacher Fellows summer program spoke to the Crossville Chronicle about how her visit to President Lincoln’s Cottage helped her in the classroom.
- NBC Washington gave a shout out to Bourbon & Bluegrass as things to do for the royal wedding weekend.
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.
Categories:Archive, Newsletter
