News Release

Lincoln Home Hosts Black History Month Guest Ranger Series

Ranger Jade Perdue (New Orleans Jazz National Historical Park) performs with the Arrowhead Jazz Band.

Eliot Kamenitz

News Release Date: January 19, 2023

Contact: Jasmine Leung, 217-391-3244

SPRINGFIELD, IL: Park rangers from National Park Service sites across the country will visit Springfield during February 2023 to take part in public lectures and panels, perform music, and present programs as Lincoln Home National Historic Site commemorates Black History Month. Visiting rangers will present free public programs on topics connected to black history and their home NPS units on weekends throughout February.

On February 3rd, visiting rangers Nick Sacco (Ulysses S. Grant National Historic Site) and Ve’Amber Miller (Pullman National Historical Park) will participate in a panel discussion hosted by the Springfield and Central Illinois African American History Museum (1440 Monument Ave, Springfield, IL 62702) at 7:00 PM. These rangers will also present programs in the Lincoln Home Visitor Center (426 S. 7th St, Springfield, IL 62701) on February 4th.

On February 17th, visiting ranger Jade Perdue (New Orleans Jazz National Historical Park) will represent the Arrowhead Jazz Band at an evening performance in downtown Springfield at the Pharmacy Gallery and Art Space (623 E. Adams St, Springfield, IL 62701) at 7:00 PM.

On February 24th, visiting rangers Luecreasea Horne (Nicodemus National Historic Site), Rich Condon (Reconstruction Era National Historical Park), and Jorge Hernandez (Zion National Park) will present a final panel discussion at the Springfield and Central Illinois African American History Museum at 7:00 PM. Rangers will also present public programs at the Lincoln Home Visitor Center on Saturday February 25th, including a premiere of Ranger Jorge Hernandez’s documentary film on the 29th Illinois United States Colored Troops and their service in the Rio Grande Valley following the Civil War.

Guest Ranger Series panel discussions at the Springfield and Central Illinois African American History Museum will be moderated by Dr. Brian Mitchell, Director of Research and Interpretation at the Abraham Lincoln Presidential Library and Museum.

Dates, times, and more information for ranger programs in the Lincoln Home Visitor Center will be available on the Lincoln Home event calendar (www.nps.gov/liho/ planyourvisit/calendar) and the Visit Springfield event calendar (www.visitspringfieldillinois.com/events). For more information, contact Jasmine Leung at 217-391-3244 or at [e-mail].