A rare copy of the Emancipation Proclamation, signed by Abraham Lincoln, will be showcased at the Abraham Lincoln Presidential Library and Museum (ALPLM) in celebration of Juneteenth and Independence Day. The exhibit is located at 112 N. Sixth Street and will be open for free public viewing starting Saturday, June 15, and on weekdays from June 17 through July 3, including the Juneteenth holiday on June 19.
In addition to the exhibit, ALPLM will host a series of special events. “The Nature of Freedom,” a theatrical presentation, will be shown on June 15 at 11 a.m., and on June 19 at both 11 a.m. and 6:30 p.m. The evening performance will also feature “Small Beginnings,” a play about Robert Smalls' Civil War-era rescue mission.
The museum will offer free admission on June 19 and facilitate two discussions in collaboration with Springfield's Juneteenth Celebration and the Center for Lincoln Studies at the University of Illinois-Springfield.
Christina Shutt, ALPLM's Executive Director, spoke on the significance of displaying the Emancipation Proclamation, stating, that only a few documents in all of American history carry the weight of the Emancipation Proclamation. The ALPLM is proud to share it with the public and celebrate its connection to the holiday.
For more details, visit ALPLM Events.
