Lincoln Returns to Exeter after 150 Years
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Lincoln_in_Exeter_NHOn March 3, 1860, Abraham Lincoln, having just given an electrifying anti-slavery speech at Cooper Union in New York City, arrived in Exeter, New Hampshire to visit his son Robert, a student at Phillips Exeter Academy. Now, at long last, the former president is coming back. (see schedule below)

MARK YOUR CALENDAR
March 3- 6
Exeter, NH

 

After speaking to ever-larger, quickly assembled crowds of New Hampshire citizens in Manchester, Concord, Dover, and Exeter, Lincoln went on to accept his party’s nomination for President in May of that year, and then to the White House.

On March 6, 2010, Exeter will commemorate that visit with several events, leading up to "Lincoln’s Return" to the Exeter Town Hall where he spoke in 1860. Welcomed by the 12th NH Volunteer Regimental Serenade Band, Lincoln role-player Steve Wood will then give a talk featuring remembrances of his trip to Exeter, as well as segments of the speech he gave on that same stage.

In addition to the events, the Society is working closely with Exeter’s school district (SAU16) to bring Lincoln into the schools, and to create opportunities for hands-on learning for students. These opportunities include inviting Lincoln Presenter Steve Wood to visit all of the SAU16 schools during the month of February. The visits are sponsored by the NH Humanities Council, and open to the general public. The visits are listed on the Exeter Historical Society website under the heading, "Events."

Bringing Lincoln information directly to the students, the Exeter Historical Society is also presenting a Lincoln "traveling trunk" program -- the "Lincoln Pocket Project" to all fourth grade classrooms in SAU16 in January and February. In this hour-long program, the Historical Society introduces the students to items that Lincoln might have had with him during his visit to Exeter in 1860 while explaining the significance of his visit.

READ ABOUT another Lincoln link to Seacoast NH

The Exeter Historical Society and SAU16 are also partnering on two internet-based projects. Eighth grade students at the Cooperative Middle School are creating multi-caches for a Lincoln geocaching adventure -- a fun, high-tech scavenger hunt – that families can do at any time of the year, not just during the anniversary events. Additionally, four Exeter High School students are building an Online Resource Center on the Exeter Historical Society website, gathering as much information about Lincoln’s visit to New Hampshire as possible onto the one Internet location. The students are receiving special credits for their work, and creating a resource for the Exeter Historical Society and the community which will serve teachers, scholars and the general public for years to come.

The main public events celebrating the 150th anniversary of Lincoln’s visit to Exeter start on the exact anniversary, March 3, 2010. On that Wednesday night, Richard Schubart of Phillips Exeter Academy will present an illustrated talk, "Abraham Lincoln: From Springfield, Illinois to Exeter, New Hampshire and Beyond" that traces the crucial political years of transition from 1858 to 1861 when Lincoln became a national candidate for office. The presentation is at 7:30 pm at the Exeter Historical Society (47 Front Street), and is free and open to the public.

The following day, Thursday, March 4th, one of the eminent Lincoln scholars in the nation, Harold Holzer, will speak, at Phillips Exeter Academy Assembly Hall at 7pm. Holzer’s topic is Lincoln’s 1860 trip eastward, and its effect on his campaign for the presidency. A light reception and book signing at the Exeter Historical Society will follow the presentation.  

The main celebration takes place on Saturday, March 6th and includes family-oriented activities from 10am to 7pm. All events and programs are free and open to the public. Festivities include lectures, a Lincoln exhibit at the Society’s building at 47 Front Street, guided walking tours of Lincoln-related sites in town, an introduction to the geocaching adventure, a Civil War-era band concert and kids' activities sponsored by the Exeter High School History Club. The event will culminate in Lincoln's "encore presentation" at Exeter's Town Hall, where he spoke on March 3, 1860. Steve Wood is the featured Lincoln presenter for the event.

Please contact the Exeter Historical Society for more information about the events. The Exeter Historical Society is a non-profit organization dedicated to the research and preservation of Exeter’s past. The Historical Society is open to the public on a weekly basis, Tuesdays and Thursdays from 2 – 4:30 pm, and on Saturdays from 9:30 am to noon. Exeter Historical Society is locatted at 47 Front Street, PO Box 924, Exeter, New Hampshire, 03833, 603-778-2335.

Events are subject to change. Check online:

CLICK HERE FOR the Exeter Historical web site

Events in Lincoln Return to Exeter, March 2010

Wednesday, March 3 – 7:30 pm. Rick Schubart presents Abraham Lincoln: from Springfield, Illinois to Exeter, New Hampshire and Beyond at the Exeter Historical Society

Thursday, March 4, 7pm
Harold Holzer Presentation, PEA Assembly Hall  

Saturday, March 6
10am – 4pm --- NH Historical Society Lincoln Exhibit at the Exeter Historical Society

10am – 4pm --- Lincoln Art Show at the Town Hall gallery

10am, 12pm & 3:30pm --- Guided Walking Tours, beginning at Gale Park

11am – 4pm ---- Exeter High School History Club students lead children’s activities at the Exeter Public Library

11am – Rick Schubart and Mike Pride present a program on Lincoln in NH at the Exeter Public Library followed by a booksigning (Mike Pride’s new edition of Elwyn Page’s Abraham Lincoln in New Hampshire)

2:30pm – 3:30 ---- Band Concert at the First Congregational Church

5pm --- Lincoln starts his procession & band begins to play

5:15pm --- Lincoln arrives at Exeter Town Hall

5:30pm – 7pm --- Main Event at Exeter’s Town Hall

Thanks to a grant from the NH Humanities Council, the Exeter Historical Society has created the Lincoln Sesquicentennial (150th) program, partnering with Phillips Exeter Academy, SAU 16, Exeter Public Library, American Independence Museum, Exeter Area Chamber of Commerce, Exeter Arts Association, Town of Exeter, Inn by the Bandstand, Exeter Inn, Infinite Imaging of Exeter, Water Street Bookstore, NH Historical Society, Manchester Historic Association and the Woodman Institute.