Union Pacific Railroad Foundation grant supports Lincoln bicentennial
For Immediate Release March 24, 2009
State Historical Society to launch “History on the Move” traveling museum exhibit
(DES MOINES, Iowa) – Iowa’s two-year celebration of President Lincoln’s life and legacy received a boost today with support from the Union Pacific Railroad Foundation.
The Iowa Historical Foundation received a $25,000 Union Pacific Railroad grant on behalf of the Iowa Abraham Lincoln Bicentennial Commission, which is partnering with the State Historical Society of Iowa to create a traveling museum exhibit called “History on the Move” that will focus on Lincoln’s ties to Iowa. The exhibit will visit Iowa communities and schools, and will include a theatrical component. In addition, a donor who wishes to remain anonymous is contributing $25,000 to the exhibit over the next three years.
“We are very pleased and grateful to have the support of the Union Pacific Railroad to develop this museum exhibit and tour it throughout the state of Iowa,” said Cyndi Pederson, director of the Iowa Department of Cultural Affairs and vice chair of the IALBC. “This project is an excellent example of how private and public entities can partner to help deliver educational service to Iowa’s communities and students, especially during these difficult economic times.”
Lincoln’s ties to Iowa and the railway system were cemented in history when he signed the Pacific Railway Act on July 1, 1862, authorizing construction of the transcontinental railroad.
Central Pacific, an existing California railroad, started in Sacramento and built east, while Union Pacific started in Council Bluffs and built west. Though Lincoln did not live to see the driving of the Golden Spike in 1869, the transcontinental railroad was one of the greatest achievements of his presidency.
“Building the transcontinental railroad is widely considered one of the greatest achievements of the 19th century,” said Brenda Mainwaring, Union Pacific director, public affairs for Iowa and Nebraska. “Union Pacific has a long and storied tradition in supporting educational efforts, and History on the Move is an excellent opportunity to help Iowa students learn more about Lincoln’s role in the development of the railway system across Iowa and his other ties to the state.”
Iowa joined the 49 other states last year in kicking off a two-year series of state and national events when SHSI opened an exhibit featuring several original Lincoln documents, including his letter to Keokuk politician Hawkins Taylor describing 1859 campaign travels and a handwritten message to a joint committee of Congress accepting a second term as president.
The documents, written in 1859 and 1865, are part of the State Historical Library’s Special Collections section. They are being preserved in a highly secured storage area inside the State Historical Building, where they are protected from sunlight and fluctuations in temperature and humidity. Both documents have been authenticated by scholars as originals and are cited in the “Collected Works of Abraham Lincoln.”
Some of Lincoln’s ties to Iowa are below:
PRESIDENTIAL APPOINTMENTS – Lincoln appointed Samuel F. Miller of Keokuk to the United States Supreme Court, and James Harlan of Mount Pleasant as U.S. Secretary of the Interior
BRIDGE AT DAVENPORT – The first bridge across the Mississippi River, built in 1856, connected Rock Island, Ill., and Davenport and was a major breakthrough for western travel and commerce. Lincoln had a key part in a lawsuit between riverboat interests and the railroads over the bridge.
VISIT TO COUNCIL BLUFFS – TRANSCONTINENTAL RAILROAD – Lincoln traveled to Council Bluffs in August 1859 and met with Grenville Dodge, who convinced him the transcontinental railroad should be routed through Council Bluffs.
HARLAN-LINCOLN HOUSE, MOUNT PLEASANT – Lincoln’s son, Robert, married the daughter of Iowa Sen. James Harlan, whom Lincoln appointed Secretary of the Interior in 1865. Robert and Mary Harlan Lincoln wed in 1868. The family spent considerable time at Sen. Harlan’s house in Mount Pleasant.
LINCOLN’S IOWA LAND HOLDINGS – Lincoln’s military service in the Black Hawk War of 1832 led to him assuming ownership of two tracts of land in Iowa, one in Crawford County and one in Tama County.
LINCOLN IN DUBUQUE – Lincoln traveled to Dubuque in late April or early May 1859, probably on railroad business.
SPEECH AT BURLINGTON – In the midst of the legendary Lincoln-Douglas debates of 1858, Lincoln made a side trip to Burlington to make a political speech.
More information about events in Iowa commemorating Lincoln’s life and legacy can be found on-line at www.iowalincoln200.org. More information about the ALBC is available at www.lincolnbicentennial.gov.
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The Iowa Department of Cultural Affairs is responsible for developing the state’s interest in the areas of the arts, history and other cultural matters with the advice and assistance from its two divisions: the State Historical Society of Iowa and the Iowa Arts Council. DCA preserves, researches, interprets and promotes an awareness and understanding of local, state and regional history and stimulates and encourages the study and presentation of the performing and fine arts and public interest and participation in them. It implements tourism-related art and history projects as directed by the General Assembly and designs a comprehensive, statewide, long-range plan with the assistance of the Iowa Arts Council to develop the arts in Iowa. More information about DCA is available at www.culturalaffairs.org.
