Lincoln Bicentennial Events in North Dakota - 2008 - 2009

Grand opening of the Lincoln's Legacy in North Dakota exhibit at the North Dakota Heritage Center, Bismarck, produced by the State Historical Society of North Dakota (SHSND), on display through January 31, 2010. of the exhibit.

The Homestead Act signed by President Lincoln in 1862 is displayed at the North Dakota Heritage Center, as part of the Lincoln’s Legacy in North Dakota exhibit, through November 10, 2008.  On loan from the National Archives in Washington, D.C., it is on public display for the first time since 1979.

“Lincoln, Land, and Liberty: The Civil War Era and Beyond”
The North Dakota Humanities Council (NDHC) celebrates its 35th anniversary with a benefit dinner and an evening presentation of the Everett Albers Chautauqua Program, “Lincoln, Land, and Liberty: The Civil War Era and Beyond” in Bismarck.

NDHC Chautauqua “Lincoln, Land, and Liberty,” in Bismarck with scholars portraying Abraham Lincoln, Frederick Douglass, Walt Whitman, and William Jayne (co-sponsored with Bismarck State College; evening programs at 7 p.m. at the National Energy Center for Excellence, BSC campus; daytime programs TBA).  Go to www.nd-humanities.org for updates.

NDHC Chautauqua “Lincoln, Land, and Liberty,” in Fargo-Moorhead with scholars portraying Abraham Lincoln, Frederick Douglass, Walt Whitman, and William Jayne (co-sponsored with Metro Museum Directors of Fargo-Moorhead; evening programs at 7 p.m. at the Hjemkomst Center, Moorhead; daytime programs TBA). Go to www.nd-humanities.org for updates.

NDHC Chautauqua “Lincoln, Land, and Liberty,” in Jamestown with scholars portraying Abraham Lincoln, Frederick Douglass, Walt Whitman, and William Jayne (co-sponsored with The Arts Center; evening programs at 7 p.m. at the Jamestown High School Auditorium; daytime programs TBA).  Go to www.nd-humanities.org for updates.

Homesteading Day, 10 a.m. to 4 p.m., North Dakota Heritage Center, featuring family activities, programs, demonstrations and musical entertainment highlighting the Homestead Act and its impact on North Dakota.  Signed in 1862 by President Lincoln, the Homestead Act is now on exhibit at the North Dakota Heritage Center through November 10. For more information, call (701) 328-2792.

Dr. James McPherson will read from and discuss his new book, Tried by War: Abraham Lincoln as Commander in Chief, at a free public program at the historic Fargo Theatre, 7 p.m. (broadcast on Thursday, October 23 at 8 p.m. on Prairie Public Television); afternoon seminar with area college students and faculty to be podcast on the Prairie Public website, sponsored by the Read North Dakota program (www.readnd.org).  McPherson, a Pulitzer Prize-winning historian of the Civil War, is a native of Valley City, North Dakota.  Read North Dakota is a consortium of members, including the SHSND, the NDHC, the North Dakota Council on the Arts (NDCA), Prairie Public Broadcasting, and the North Dakota Library Association, dedicated to celebrating and promoting literature connected with North Dakota.

“Lincoln, Land, and Liberty” Symposium in Fargo-Moorhead, sponsored by the NDHC , in cooperation with North Dakota State University, the University of North Dakota, and Concordia College.  Various programs to be scheduled throughout the month.

20th Annual Governor's Conference on North Dakota History, sponsored by the SHSND at the North Dakota Heritage Center.  The theme will be Lincoln Legacy: The Homestead Act.  This will be the second part of a two-part theme for the state history conference – part one, Lincoln Legacy: The Railroad, was held November 2-3, 2007.

Premier of the documentary film, Lincoln and the Homestead Act on Prairie Public Television, in partnership with the SHSND, the NDHC and the NDCA.

Traveling Exhibit of Lincoln’s Legacy in North Dakota, based on exhibit at North Dakota Heritage Center.  Developed and produced by the SHSND as part of its Traveling Interpretive Exhibits Service (TIES) program.

Abraham Lincoln Fun Facts on Cass-Clay Creamery milk cartons

North Dakota Council on the Arts sponsoring artist-in-residence programs in more than 10 rural schools by the Northern Prairie Performing Arts Troupe from the Fargo-Moorhead Community Theatre.  Residencies will include workshops on Shakespeare, makeup, improvisation and stage combat, beginning Spring 2008

NDCA sponsorship of a North Dakota performance of an original composition about Lincoln by former Fargo resident Peter Schickele, commissioned by the National Lincoln Bicentennial Commission (tentative).

Battle Cry of Freedom, the Pulitzer Prize-winning book by Dr. James McPherson, featured in the North Dakota Reads book discussion list of nonfiction titles; other Lincoln-related material.

The Legislative Leadership of the 2007 Legislative Assembly appointed a committee to plan an appropriate program to mark the actual 200th anniversary of Abraham Lincoln’s birth on February 12, 2009, to take place that day during the 2009 Legislative Assembly.  The members, representing each chamber and each party, are: Senator Tony Grindberg, chairman of the committee (R-Fargo); Senator Carolyn Nelson (D-Fargo); Representative Nancy Johnson (R-Dickinson); and Representative Ed Gruchalla (D-Fargo).  This is a committee planning only for the February 12, 2009 event at the Legislative Assembly, and is working with staff from the State Historical Society of North Dakota, the North Dakota Council on the Arts, the North Dakota Humanities Council and others in planning the event.