Abraham Lincoln Transformed
Benjamin B. Green-Field Gallery and The Mazza Foundation Gallery
Abraham Lincoln Transformed
October 10, 2009 through April 12, 2010
Transformed by war, Abraham Lincoln forever changed America.
Lincoln rose to prominence in the 1850s, a period of intense national debate over slavery. A political moderate, Lincoln considered slavery morally evil and firmly opposed its expansion but tolerated its presence in the South to maintain the Union he revered.
Soon after winning the presidency in 1860, Lincoln faced the mighty Civil War. Its complex, powerful forces tested—and ultimately transformed—his views, prompting him to take radical new steps that permanently abolished American slavery and extended equal citizenship rights to some blacks.
Lincoln’s transformation helped win the war, thus saving the nation from collapse while preserving its democratic ideals and institutions for future generations. Although Lincoln did not resolve all of the problems stemming from slavery, he put America on course to become a biracial democracy, the first in world history.
Abraham Lincoln Transformed features more than one hundred and fifty artifacts from the Museum’s collection including original Lincoln manuscripts, slave artifacts, fan and hate mail sent to Lincoln during his time in office, a commemorative copy of the Thirteenth Amendment signed by Lincoln, and Lincoln’s stove top hat.
This landmark exhibition is presented in tandem with Benito Juárez and the Making of Modern Mexico; the two exhibitions are key elements in the Museum's Lincoln Bicentennial year.
> Learn more about Benito Juárez and the Making of Modern Mexico
> Learn more about the Lincoln Bicentennial
Chicago History Museum Blog
The Museum's blog features posts from staff who share their in-depth knowledge of the Museum's collection, programs, and exhibitions.
Learn more about Abraham Lincoln Transformed from curator Libby Mahoney and other key staff. Subscribe to the blog and enjoy regular posts that offer expertise and insight from the insiders' view.
> Lincoln’s Watch and Chain (2/12/10)
> Lincoln and Juárez: Parallel Paths (1/26/10)
> A Fresh Set of Whiskers (12/29/09)
> The Union Is Dissolved! (12/17/09)
> Abraham Lincoln as "The Railsplitter" (11/18/09)
> Abraham Lincoln Transformed (10/19/09)
Multimedia
Slideshow
A preview of selected pieces from the exhibition.
> View a slideshow of highlights from Abraham Lincoln Transformed
Curator Commentary
Libby Mahoney, Chief Curator at the Chicago History Museum, gives a brief overview of the exhibition Abraham Lincoln Transformed.
> View curator Libby Mahoney's commentary on Abraham Lincoln Transformed
Chicago-based Exelon is the presenting sponsor of the Lincoln Bicentennial celebration. Additional support has been provided by the Crown Family and by Gordon and Carole Segal.
The Museum gratefully acknowledges the Motorola Foundation and The Nathan Cummings Foundation for their support of Abraham Lincoln Transformed. The Museum also thanks JP Morgan Chase, the Guild of the Chicago Historical Society, and Jacob and Rosaline Cohn Foundation for their support of educational programming for the celebration. Adult programming is generously supported by Bank of America. The Museum recognizes Tawani Foundation for their support of penny admission during opening weekend. ABC 7 Chicago is the official broadcast partner.