The Lincoln Monument Centennial Rededication is fast approaching. If you’ve ever wondered about the early history of Lincoln and how Nebraska came to commission the nation’s leading sculptor of public monuments for a special centennial tribute to President Abraham Lincoln come to the free public program in the Capitol’s Warner Chamber at 2:00 p.m. Sunday September 2, 2012. Michael Smith, Executive Director of the Nebraska State Historical Society, will discuss the early history of Lincoln, Nebraska and Mayda Jensen of Jensen Conservation in Omaha will discuss Daniel Chester French and his sculpture. In 1912, after a keynote address by William Jennings Bryan, a crowd of thousands gathered to see the Lincoln Monument unveiled. The 1912 ceremony at the monument included patriotic music and the reading of the Gettysburg Address, as will the rededication ceremony. Sunday September 2nd at 2:30 p.m. the program will conclude at the Lincoln Monument on the west side of the Capitol with patriotic music by the Sons of Union Veterans of the Civil War and Nebraska Supreme Court Chief Justice Michael Heavican reading the Gettysburg Address. The rededication will also include a Governor’s Proclamation read by Capitol Administrator Robert C. Ripley, a Legislative Resolution read by State Senator Amanda McGill, and a Mayoral Proclamation by Lincoln Mayor Chris Beutler. Please join the Office of the Capitol Commission in celebration of this major work of public sculpture. A full size copy of the Standing Lincoln is on display at Chesterwood, the sculptor’s studio in Massachusetts. Smaller scale bronze replicas are displayed at Lincoln’s Tomb in Springfield, Illinois, at the Art Institute of Chicago, and in the collection of Sheldon Museum of Art on the University of Nebraska Campus.
While at the Capitol for the program, be sure to check out the display about the Lincoln Monument on first floor. The Landmark Store at the Capitol, first floor south center corridor will be open special hours on Sunday September 2, 2012 and will have many Lincoln related items for sale. Please read more about the monument or the tourism supervisor at .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address) for more information about the September 2, 2012 program.