Abraham Lincoln Presidential Library and Museum News


	For Immediate Release: October 31, 2006	Contact: Abby Ottenhoff 312/814.3158 Rebecca Rausch 217/782.7355 Gerardo Cardenas 312/814.3158 Jill Burwitz (ALPLM) 217/558.8970
	Abraham Lincoln Presidential Museum launches 1 millionth visitor contest Accepting guesses for date and time of when 1 millionth will visit Springfield, Ill. The Abraham Lincoln Presidential Museum is expecting its 1 millionth visitor by the end of the year. To celebrate this monumental event, the Museum is launching a contest for entrants to guess when the 1 millionth person will visit. The entrant, who guesses closest to the actual date and time that person enters the Museum will be the winner. "Since we opened the doors to the Abraham Lincoln Presidential Museum, people from around the world have traveled to Springfield to experience it. Now we are getting ready to welcome the 1 millionth visitor," said Gov. Rod R. Blagojevich. "What an amazing testament this is to the Museum, the City of Springfield and the State of Illinois. The tremendous success of the Museum has led to the creation of Destination Springfield, a group that will capitalize on the popularity of the Museum, while strengthening the destination appeal of Springfield." "Who would have imaged that the Abraham Lincoln Presidential Library and Museum would be over a million visitors in less than two years," said Thomas F. Schwartz, Interim Executive Director of the Abraham Lincoln Presidential Library and Museum. "This is a wonderful endorsement of all the hard work and creative efforts of the ALPLM staff. We are always interested in knowing why people come to visit us and certainly the millionth visitor's explanation will be broadcast for the entire world to hear. We hope the public will get into the spirit of this contest and offer their estimates of when the ALPLM will reach this significant milestone." Contest participants can track the latest attendance numbers in Union Square Park after November 10th. A digital counter is positioned at the corner of Sixth Street and Jefferson. Attendance numbers after November 10th will be updated on the counter daily. The winner will receive two free passes to the Abraham Lincoln Presidential Museum good for unlimited visits for one year compliments of the Abraham Lincoln Presidential Foundation, the sponsor of the event. Last week, Gov. Blagojevich named former State-Journal Register Publisher Patrick Coburn to chair the Destination Springfield civil leadership group. This initiative provides a unique opportunity to leverage the vast interest and legacy of Abraham Lincoln and strengthen the destination appeal of Springfield. The Governor has already challenged a collection of civic and business leaders and creative planning experts to conceive a master development strategy. As of Sunday, Oct. 29, 945,290 visitors have toured the Museum since the opening in April 2005. Gov. Blagojevich opened the Presidential Museum with President George W. Bush and a host of dignitaries. Held in Union Square Park across from the Museum, the dedication concluded two decades of planning and hard work, bringing the public and private life of Abraham Lincoln to the forefront. In its first year, the ALPLM has attracted more than 600,000 visitors, doubling first year attendance predictions. Visitors have come from every state in the nation and a number of countries around the world. School children make up a significant portion of visitors. Attendance numbers aside, the ALPLM is proud of several other accomplishments since the April 2005 opening, including three blockbuster exhibits, 'Blood on the Moon', 'Christmas at the White House' and 'Mrs. President: From Martha to Laura.' With Foundation support, the ALPLM unveiled new programs such as Evenings to Remember, featuring former Illinois Governor Jim Thompson, former Illinois Congressman Dan Rostenkowski, Pulitzer-prize winning author and historian Doris Kearns Goodwin and acclaimed television journalist Bill Kurtis. The ALPLM also launched the Jim Edgar Lecture Series, featuring Pulitzer-prize winning historian David McCullough and author/journalist David Brooks. Upcoming events include "...to cherish peace and good will..." Holiday's at the White House. This temporary exhibit will debut November 24 and run through January 7, 2007 and will showcase rare artifacts, insightful stories, and Presidential Christmas trees spanning several administrations. For a contest form and a complete list of rules, visit the Museum's website at www.alplm.org. ###