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Do you know who said, "You may fool all the people some of the time; you can even fool some of the people all of the time; but you can’t fool all of the people all of the time"?

Illinois’ very own Abraham Lincoln gets credit for this bit of wisdom. This year is the 150th anniversary of his funeral, so many people are interested in learning more about his life and times.

Since we live in the Land of Lincoln, there are lots of opportunities for family daytrips. Springfield is about a three-hour drive away, and features many Lincoln sites.  A great place to start your visit is the awarding-winning Abraham Lincoln Presidential Library and Museum (ALPLM). The museum owns a huge collection of materials relating to Abraham Lincoln, called Lincolniana (try saying that three times, fast). The ALPLM website is a great resource for information about other places to visit as well. Lincoln's New Salem State Historic Site is one of my favorites. Families can enjoy time outdoors as they explore this reconstruction of the village where Lincoln spent his early adulthood.

Closer to home, you have a chance to meet President Lincoln at the annual Civil War Days encampment on July 13 & 14 at the Lakewood Forest Preserve in Wauconda, IL. This is the largest Civil War encampment in Illinois. The event features infantry, cavalry and artillery reenactors, and many more opportunities to experience life in the 1860's.

For the digital tourist, try Lincoln Memorial Interactive. This National Park Service website lets you experience a virtual walk the Lincoln Memorial in Washington, DC. Just click and drag to move through the panorama, learning as you go.

Of course, the library has dozens of books about Lincoln. Here a few notable books in our collection: