Friends of Lincoln State Park

The new Lincoln Boyhood Drama Association continues to work toward opening of a new Lincoln play in June 2009 for the Lincoln Bicentennial. The Association's current efforts are focused on a nationwide search for a playwright to create a new dramatic presentation for the 1,500-seat Lincoln Amphitheatre at Lincoln State Park. According to LBDA president Will Koch, "The Indiana Legislature voted to provide fundinig to produce a new play for the bicentennial. Our Board has a lot of work to do between now and June of 2009; searching for our playwright and general manager are two big steps."

In addition to traditional "help wanted" ads, the LBDA has been contacting universities, agencies, and theatres throughout the country, as well as working with the Institute of Outdoor Drama. The Association has also taken advantage of online services such as Monster.com and Craig's List.

Koch says, "Lincoln's character was forged right here in southern Indiana. We want the new play to leave the audience with the understanding that the boy who lived here from ages 7 to 21 became such a remarkable president in large part due to what he experienced and learned here."

Apr 19   Kite Day
Apr 26   Kite Day (alternate date in case of bad weather)
May 10   Lincoln Bicentennial Mother's Day Event
May 24   Amphitheatre Concert:   Susie Boggus and Owensboro Symphony
May 25   Community Band Concert at Amphitheatre:   Spencer County, Owensboro, and Newburgh Old Dam Community Bands
Sep 27   "Keepin' Up with the Joneses" Activities and discussions at the Col. Jones Home relating to life in the 1830's designed to compliment Lincoln Bicentennial celebrations
Oct 18,25   Friends Fall Frolic and Haunted Trail:   Annual autumn events including games, crafts, hay rides, pumpkin painting, and the haunted trail

Frank J. Williams, Chief Justice of the Supreme Court of Rhode Island and one of the country's most renowned experts on Abraham Lincoln will be the featured speaker at the annual Lincoln Day program on Sunday, February 10, 2008. The program will begin at 2:00 p.m. (CST) and will be held in the Abraham Lincoln Hall of Lincoln Boyhood National Memorial.

Judge Williams is the author or editor of over thirteen books and has contributed chapters to several others and lectured on the subject throughout the country. At the same time, he has amassed an unsurpassed private library and archive that ranks among the nation's largest and finest Lincoln collections. In 2000, the Chief Justice was appointed to the United States Abraham Lincoln Bicentennial Commission created by Congress to plan events to commemorate the 200th birthday of Abraham Lincoln in 2009. Since 1996, Chief Justice Williams has served as founding Chairman of The Lincoln Forum, a national assembly of Lincoln and Civil War devotees. For 9 years, he served as President of the Abraham Lincoln Association and, for 14 years, as President of The Lincoln Group of Boston. He is currently at work on an annotated bibliography of all the Lincoln titles published since 1865. His book of essays, Judging Lincoln, was published by Southern Illinois University Press in 2002. He also serves as Literary Editor of the Lincoln Herald where his quarterly “Lincolniana” survey appears.

The 2008 Lincoln Day program will include presentation of the colors by the Sons of Union Veterans of the Civil War, choral music and other ceremonial activities to honor the memory of Abraham Lincoln and his family.

Following the indoor program, the traditional pilgrimage to the gravesite of Nancy Hanks Lincoln for a wreath laying ceremony will be held. All are invited to a reception in the Memorial Visitor Center at the conclusion of the program. The park entrance fee will be waived for this special event.