Lincoln Bicentennial Themes

• “I, too, am a Kentuckian.” Abraham Lincoln 1861 Lincoln’s Family,Friends, and Associates-Kentuckians who influenced Lincoln’s personal development
• “His was the only line of salvation for our country.”  Thomas E. Bramlette, 1865 Conscience, Politics, & Legacy-Kentucky’s role in developing Lincoln’s character, politics, and ideals
• “Now He Belongs to the Ages.” Edwin M. Stanton, 1865                                      Lincoln’s Relevance Today-Highlighting the message of Lincoln for the 21^st century

Lincoln Bicentennial Outcomes

Positioning: Establish Lincoln as a Kentuckian, on both a state and national level, by telling the critical role that Kentucky and Kentuckians played in the life and career of Abraham Lincoln

• Raise public awareness that Kentucky was Lincoln’s birthplace
• Demonstrate the vast degree that Lincoln was influenced by Kentuckians—including his family, friends, mentors, associates, and rivals
• Increase the understanding of how Kentucky was shaped by Lincoln through his policies and politics before, during, and after the Civil War

Education: Incorporate the relevance of the Lincoln story into educational programming across Kentucky

• Encourage the development of new tools for educators to present the Lincoln story on the primary, secondary, collegiate, and adult levels
• Instill a deeper appreciation of the vital role that Kentucky played in the slavery debate, Civil War, and emancipation proclamation strategy
• Establish statewide public participation in Bicentennial educational activities including competitions, symposia, exhibits, and community events
• Demonstrate increased knowledge on Lincoln topics among Kentucky teachers and students

Cultural Infrastructure: Strengthen long-term legacy of Kentucky’s Lincoln sites and museums

• Enhance interpretation, programming, and Lincoln-related collections at Lincoln sites and museums
• Add value to visitor experiences through the further development of the Lincoln Heritage Trail, public Lincoln-related art, and statewide Civil War interpretation and preservation (in preparation for Civil War Sesquicentennial)
• Encourage a diverse network of community history partnerships, ensuring that the Bicentennial has engaged a broad, multicultural audience

Tourism: Enhance Kentucky’s Heritage Tourism Industry

• Engage national media and utilize an integrated marketing plan developed in conjunction with the Kentucky Tourism Cabinet to tell Kentucky’s Lincoln story
• Enhance Kentucky’s long-term heritage tourism resources, including infrastructure and investment
• Create a positive economic impact on the commonwealth through heritage tourism
• Create a State memorial to Abraham Lincoln on the Louisville Waterfront as a focal point for promoting tourism at Kentucky Lincoln sites