The museum houses the original Gettysburg Address in the handwriting of Abraham Lincoln, known as the 'Nicolay Copy'.
The facility contains more than 12 million items in its library collection, making it the largest collection of its kind in the world.
The 'Ghosts of the Library' presentation uses a theater-in-the-round format with physical sets and holographic projection.
The Union Theater inside the museum hosts daily screenings and live presentations throughout the year.
The museum holds a collection of over 50,000 Lincoln-related books and pamphlets.
The plaza's rotunda is designed to represent the scale of the original White House interior.
The Abraham Lincoln Presidential Library and Museum serves as the primary repository for the state of Illinois' collection of Lincoln-related artifacts and documents. It utilizes immersive, high-tech environments to recreate the 1860s, including a walk-through depiction of Lincoln's boyhood cabin and his early years in New Salem. The facility is split between a research library and a public-facing museum, housing over 1,500 artifacts in its permanent exhibits. Visitors move through dioramas representing key chapters of the 16th president's life, from his Kentucky origins to the White House years. A prominent feature is the 'Treasures Gallery,' which rotates original, fragile documents and personal items. The complex occupies a full city block in downtown Springfield. The museum's architectural design incorporates a grand central plaza that acts as a staging area for guests. It serves as an educational center for historians and the general public alike.
The plaza's replica of the White House rotunda provides the most recognizable architectural backdrop.
Prioritize the Treasures Gallery first, as the displayed original documents are swapped periodically for preservation.
Allow extra time for the immersive theater experiences, as they follow a set performance schedule.
Wear comfortable shoes for extensive walking, as the exhibit floor layout covers a large footprint.
Attempting to see the entire library archives; these are restricted to researchers and require advanced appointments.
Open daily, but occasionally closed on major national holidays; check the website for specific holiday closures.
No flash photography is permitted near sensitive historical documents in the Treasures Gallery.
