Lincoln's Contested Legacy
Great Emancipator or unreconstructed racist? Defender of civil liberties or subverter of the Constitution? Each generation evokes a different Lincoln. But who was he?
Lincoln as Commander in Chief
A self-taught strategist with no combat experience, Abraham Lincoln saw the path to victory more clearly than his generals
Gettysburg Address Displayed at Smithsonian
Lincoln's timeless speech during the Civil War endures as a national treasure
Abraham Lincoln: a Man of His Words
Ted Sorensen finds that of all the U.S. presidents, Lincoln had the best speechwriter—himself
The Debates that Ignited Lincoln’s Rise to Fame
Abraham Lincoln's debates with Stephen A. Douglas for the U.S. Senate in 1858 turned the backwoods rail-splitter into presidential timber
Letters Between Lincoln and Douglas Reveal Debate Negotiations
Abraham Lincoln and Stephen Douglas engaged in pre-debate negotiations in 1858
A Presidential Inventor
In 1849, Lincoln patented an ingenious addition to transportation technology, a floatation system for riverboats
A Lincoln-centric Tour Through Modern D.C.
The house where the conspirators hatched their heinous plot now serves sushi, and the yard where they were hanged is a tennis court
Freeing the Slaves and Saving a Nation
As his army faltered and his cabinet bickered, Abraham Lincoln determined that "we must free the slaves or be ourselves subdued." In 1862, he finally got his chance
Musical Mudslinging on the Campaign Trail
Before TV came on the scene, presidential candidates relied on campaign songs for negative advertising
Lincoln’s Second Inaugural Was One for the Ages
In a new book, Historian Ronald C. White, Jr., explains why Lincoln's Second Inaugural Address, given just weeks before he died, was his greatest speech
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Videos
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Abraham Lincoln: An Extraordinary LifeBehind the Scenes with Harry Rubenstein At the National Museum of American History |
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One Life: The Mask of LincolnNational Portrait Gallery historian David C. Ward discusses images of Abraham Lincoln |
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In the Footsteps of Lincoln's AssassinPreview Scenes from the Smithsonian Channel's Visit with Civil War Historian Ed Bearss |
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Mathew Brady's VisionMathew Brady is known for his Civil War photography and groundbreaking work in the field |
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Smithsonian Associates: Historian Speaks to Lincoln’s LegacyAuthor Harold Holzer discusses Abraham Lincoln’s presidency |
Smithsonian Journeys
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Northern Lights of Canada Marvel at nature's most magnificent phenomena—the Northern Lights—during this fascinating adventure into Canada's wilderness |
Shop at the Smithsonian Store
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Abraham Lincoln: An Extraordinary Life by Harry R. Rubenstein For the first time, the Smithsonian is publishing its unparalleled Lincoln collection. |
