SPRINGFIELD, IL: Lincoln Home National Historic Site will host three different programs throughout the month of December. The park ranger-led programs are free and open to the public.

The program “What’s on the Lincolns’ Christmas List? A Walking Tour of the Old State Capitol Plaza” will take place on December 7, 14 and 21 at 4:45p.m., beginning in the Springfield Visitor Center located at 1 S. Old State Capitol Plaza. The Lincoln Home invites the public to join a ranger for a walk around the Old State Capitol Plaza and learn about the shops of Lincoln’s Springfield. Participants will learn about how 1860s Springfield would celebrate the holiday season, goods the Lincoln family purchased, and popular Christmas gifts of the time.

The program “Snug Stoneys, Cozy Cards: Games in Wintertime Springfield” will be available December 3, 4, 10, 11, 17 and 18 from 10:00a.m. to 12:00p.m. and 2:00p.m. to 4:00p.m. located in the Lincoln Home National Historic Site Visitor Center at 426 S. 7th Street. The Lincoln Home invites the public to join park rangers inside the center on weekends in December to learn about some of the indoor games children played during the Lincolns’ time.

The program “Deriving Good: A Christmas Carol and its Influence on Holiday Tradition” will take place December 18 from 3:00p.m. to 5:00p.m. inside the Lincoln Home National Historic Site Visitor Center at 426 S. 7th Street. The Lincoln Home invites the public to join a park ranger for discussion about Charles Dickens’ A Christmas Carol. First published in 1843, Charles Dickens’ seminal work of holiday cheer has endured in popular culture for nearly 200 years. Following the discussion, the site will show a free screening of the classic 1938 MGM film adaptation of the book.   back...