Pilgrimages to Lincoln’s tomb will begin a year of bicentennial commemorations

During the pilgrimages, wreaths will decorate the tomb, which is located beneath an imposing 117-foot obelisk. Illinois Historic Preservation Agency photos

The nation will be celebrating the 200th anniversary of Abraham Lincoln’s birth this year with a variety of exhibits and festivities, but two of the first events will be somber and moving ceremonies this winter at the Lincoln Tomb State Historic Site in Springfield, Ill.

The tomb, located in Springfield’s Oak Ridge Cemetery, will host the annual Pilgrimage of the Veterans of Foreign Wars on Saturday, Feb. 7. Starting at 2 p.m., the event will feature a parade of flags, a eulogy for the 16th president and a traditional 21-gun salute.

Then the National American Legion Pilgrimage to the Lincoln tomb will take place on Feb. 12, which was the day Lincoln was born in 1809. Hosted by Springfield’s American Legion Post #32 and in its 75th year, the event will begin at 10:30 a.m. that Thursday with the placing of wreaths inside the tomb.

The American Legion National Commander will address those gathered and other state and local dignitaries will speak. Civil War re-enactors will be present, and a vocal ensemble, Sound Celebration, will sing patriotic songs for the occasion.

“It’s very beautiful because the acoustics are very sensitive in the tomb,” said Nan Wynn, site superintendent.

The magnificent tomb, which was designed by world-famous sculptor Larkin Mead, provides a dramatic image as visitors enter the grounds. It was dedicated in 1874 and is the final resting place not only for Lincoln but for his wife, Mary, and three of their four sons, Edward, William and Thomas. The eldest son, Robert T. Lincoln, is buried in Arlington National Cemetery.

Surrounding the 117-foot obelisk and within the tomb are a number of statues, plaques and sculptures, including a bronze reproduction of Gutzon Borglum’s marble head of Lincoln, which is located in the U.S. Capitol in Washington, D.C.

The cemetery is located at 1500 Monument Ave. For more information, call the site at (217) 782-2717.

Mardi Gras celebration goes to the dogs in St. Louis, Mo.

Dogs will be decked out in all types of costumes for the parade. St. Louis Convention and Visitors Commission photo

Some party guests can act like animals, but when St. Louis throws its annual Mardi Gras celebration, it’s expected–even applauded– behavior for some invitees.

Thousands of four-legged friends and their guardians will hit the streets of the Soulard neighborhood just south of downtown St. Louis in the annual Beggin’ Strips Barkus Pet Parade on Sunday, Feb. 15. It’s one of the largest pet parades in the world, and this year marks its 16th anniversary of being the place to be seen for pets and their people.

There will be plenty of tail-wagging good fun as dogs and other lovable pets parade in their colorful Mardi Gras-themed costumes. Festivities will begin at 10 a.m., and the parade steps off at 1 p.m. at the corner of Menard and Allen. The yelping menagerie will make its way through Soulard and conclude at Soulard Market Park. Animal participants are subject to the approval of Mardi Gras, Inc. and the St. Louis Department of Animal Control based on appropriateness, temperament and health.

For even more furry fun, check out the Wiener Dog Derby that day in Soulard. Diminutive dashing daschunds will race in three divisions based on age: Cocktail Wienies, Ballpark Franks and Hot Dogs. The races will begin at 2:30 p.m., and the finals will be followed by the trophy presentation in the Wiener’s Circle.

In addition to the pet-friendly events, there will be an array of other activities to celebrate Mardi Gras in Soulard, starting with a Twelfth Night procession on Jan. 6 and ending with a Fat Tuesday Parade on Feb. 24. In between, there will be a winter carnival, wine tasting, Cajun cooking contest, the Taste of Soulard, the grand parade and the mayor’s ball.

The cost for the pet parade is free, but participants are asked to make a $10 donation to the Open Door Animal Sanctuary, a no-kill animal shelter. For more information about all the Mardi Gras events in St. Louis, call (314) 771-5110, or visit www.stlmardigras.org.

Evansville’s African American Museum preserves compelling cultural memories

The museum is located in a restored housing project building. Evansville Convention and Visitors Bureau photo

Most museums showcase history through their artifacts, but the building that houses the Evansville African American Museum is perhaps the museum’s most important artifact.

The museum, which opened nearly two years ago, is located in what was once the southern Indiana city’s housing project, Lincoln Gardens. In the years of segregation, the surrounding area was known as Baptisttown, an independent community where black doctors, lawyers and educators thrived.

The Evansville Housing Authority planned to raze Lincoln Gardens, but Sondra Matthews, a former resident of the site, asked the authority to donate one of the buildings for the museum. It took 10 years to restore the building, but Matthews and other dedicated individuals succeeded in their goal to preserve a cultural center to interpret the history of black families and organizations in Evansville.

One section of the building showcases early life in the Gardens. A renovated apartment with period furnishings shows what Lincoln Gardens was like when it opened in the 1930s. One room is dedicated to the city’s segregated high school, Lincoln High, with trophies, pictures and other memorabilia. From a window in that room, visitors can see the former high school, which is now an elementary school. The remaining areas promote arts and educational programs.

The museum is located at 579 Lincoln Ave. Admission is $5 for adults and $2.50 for students. Hours are 10 a.m.–5 p.m. Tuesday–Saturday. For details, call (812) 423-5188.

Oz exhibition will enchant visitors at Crown Center

There’s no place like Crown Center to celebrate the 70th anniversary of one of America’s favorite movies, “The Wizard of Oz.”

The shopping and dining complex on the southern edge of downtown Kansas City, Mo., will present the “70 Years of Oz Oh My!” exhibit from Jan. 31–April 26. With a variety of Oz collectibles on display and interactive areas to explore, the exhibit will appeal to children, parents and grandparents alike.

Visitors will be able to trace Dorothy’s footsteps through the Land of Oz. Along the yellow brick road, families can meet the Scarecrow, Tin Man and the Cowardly Lion, tour the world of the Munchkins and sneak inside the wicked witch’s eerie castle.

Local Oz enthusiast Jane Albright will display her collection of movie memorabilia, including posters, photos, books and more from the tale that was turned into an MGM classic.

Several events also will be held, including trivia sessions on Feb. 21–22, an appearance by Glinda the Good Witch on March 28–29, and appearances by other costumed Oz characters every Saturday in April.

Crown Center is located at 2450 Grand Blvd. Exhibit hours are 10 a.m.–6 p.m. Monday– Wednesday and Saturday; 10 a.m.–9 p.m. Thursday–Friday; and noon–5 p.m. on Sunday. For details, call (816) 274-8444, or visit www.crowncenter.com.

New wing raises museum to new heights

The $3.3-million expansion offers more room for the museum’s collections. Springfield Art Museum photo

With nearly 9,000 works of art, the Springfield Art Museum was busting at the seams, but now the southwest Missouri art center is bursting with pride over the unveiling of a new addition.

Completed last fall, the 10,000-square-foot expansion includes a grand entrance hall, four new galleries, a library, a museum shop and a larger parking lot. The $3.3 million project was funded by private donations to the museum over the past 15 years.

Now the museum has more room to present temporary exhibitions and its growing array of art objects representing thousands of years of culture. Special collections include American paintings, watercolor, sculpture and prints from the 19th century through the present day.

The addition is yet another milestone for the museum, the origins of which date to 1928. While it has had several homes, the present museum opened in 1958 on the edge of Phelps Grove Park, and it has been nurturing the arts ever since. It has been renovated and expanded several times to house its growing acquisitions.

The museum is located at 1111 East Brookside Drive. Hours are 9 a.m.–5 p.m. Tuesday–Wednesday and Friday–Saturday; 9 a.m.–8 p.m. on Thursday; and 1–5 p.m. on Sunday. Call (417) 837-5700 for details, or visit www.springfieldmogov.org/egov/art.