Ask Mr. Lincoln, presented by Julie and Bill Cellini

Ask Mr. Lincoln is a small interactive theater allowing you to get advice and answers from Abraham Lincoln in his own words.

Select a question from the pre-programmed list and Lincoln will answer you. Using a touch screen terminal near the entrance to the theater, you can choose from a number of pre-selected questions. We will offer only questions for which Lincoln left us an answer. But the questions available are not what you might expect. They include topics like, "What do you think of marriage?" and even, "Are you related to the actor Tom Hanks?" After selecting your question, you are directed into the theater where the questions will be answered in the order requested. Illinois State Historian, Tom Schwartz, Ph.D., appears on the screen and prefaces Lincoln's answers in a friendly way that sets the context and gives us insight into the ideas behind Lincoln's words. Then Lincoln answers. During Lincoln's answers, you will see a photograph of Lincoln from the appropriate period of his life, as the actor (William Schallert), provides Lincoln's voice reading the answer.