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PoPville: American by Belief, at President Lincoln’s Cottage, introduces the public to Abraham Lincoln’s little known immigration policies.
From President Lincoln’s Cottage: “On July 4, 1864, the same day the Lincoln family moved to the Cottage for the last time, Abraham Lincoln signed into law An Act to Encourage Immigration. This legislation cemented Lincoln and the Republican Party’s platform pledging that immigration “should be fostered and encouraged by a liberal and just policy.” American by Belief, a new special …
Read MoreThe Brookland Bridge: UPCOMING EVENTS THIS WINTER AND SPRING AT PRESIDENT LINCOLN’S COTTAGE
Although not in Brookland, one of our local gems worth checking out is nearby President Lincoln’s Cottage. The Cottage is the only public place where one can get a glimpse into Abraham Lincoln’s public and private life. Lincoln lived and worked for over a quarter of his presidency at the Cottage, where he visited wounded soldiers, spent time with self-emancipated former …
Read MoreJanuary 2017 Newsletter
DIRECTOR’S LETTER Dear Friends, This year marks the 175th anniversary of construction beginning on President Lincoln’s Cottage. The original owner, George Washington Riggs, who sold his estate to the Federal Government in 1851, had no way of knowing what would become of this place — nor the nation — just a decade later. He could never have predicted that this …
Read MoreUnveiled: the Floor Boards Lincoln Walked on
Continuing with the steps towards restoring the Cottage floors, over the holiday break workers refinished the floors in the Library and the Drawing Room. Since the cocoa matting was removed–the preliminary step to replacing it fully with a slavery-free carpet–visitors have been able to walk on the 1880s flooring. The lower layer (with the hand) is the original flooring, dating …
Read MoreA Most Unlikely Friendship: Abraham Lincoln and Matias Romero
by Dr. Jason H. Silverman With the exception of a brief trip to Niagara Falls Abraham Lincoln never left the United States.[i] And yet no one would deny that today he is a global figure. In many ways, Lincoln is larger than life both within and without the United States, including the many countries of Latin America. During his lifetime, …
Read MoreCottage Conversation: The Quartermaster
Join us as author Robert O’Harrow Jr. and Michelle Krowl of the Library of Congress discuss O’Harrow’s book, The Quartermaster: Montgomery C, Meigs, Lincoln’s General, Master Builder of the Union Army. Robert O’Harrow is a reporter with the investigative unit of The Washington Post who has focused on data privacy, cyber security, federal contracting and the financial world. Last year, …
Read MoreCottage Conversation: Midnight in America
On Thursday, April 20th, join us as author Jonathan White and Michael Bishop of the George Washington University’s National Churchill Library, discuss White’s book, Midnight in America: Darkness, Sleep, and Dreams During the Civil War. Dr. Jonathan White is an associate professor of American Studies and a senior fellow with the Center for American Studies at Christopher Newport University. He is the author …
Read MoreStaff Spotlight: How do you fight modern slavery?
Did you know that January is National Slavery and Human Trafficking Prevention month? President Lincoln’s Cottage and its youth education program, Students Opposing Slavery, are dedicated to continuing Lincoln’s unfinished work and fight for freedom. President Obama published the Presidential Proclamation late in December, and if you’ve been following our social media accounts, you’ll notice we’ve been joining the discussion …
Read MoreBBC Scotland: Burns in the USA
Robert Burns was well aware of the revolution taking place across the Atlantic as he grew up. The poet was inspired. And America was to be inspired by him. From Abraham Lincoln to Frederick Douglass, and Walt Whitman to Bob Dylan, some of the most significant figures in American politics and culture have cited Burns as an influence. During key …
Read MoreAustin360: 2017 U.S. Presidential Inauguration: Things to do in Washington, D.C.
Whether you’re heading to Washington, D.C., for the inauguration, the Women’s March or simply a winter or spring jaunt, there’s always loads to see and do. But if you only have a few days, how should you fill your itinerary? Below is a list that includes some of my favorite spots, which I discovered when I lived in D.C. for …
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