A large, lavish museum about Abe Lincoln opens later this week in his hometown of Springfield, Illinois. The Abraham Lincoln Presidential Museum promises 40,000 square feet of "immersive" exhibits and experiences, employing state-of-the-art theme park gimmickry. Some highlights from the press release:

• Ghosts of the Library - Spectacular Holavision(R) show weaves an enchanting tale about the mystery and discovery awaiting the scholar in a great historical archive such as the Abraham Lincoln Presidential Library. During the presentation, high-tech special effects create misty, ghost-like visions..."
• The Whispering Gallery - Negative campaigning is nothing new! This is a twisted, unsettling hallway where visitors hear brutally unkind things said about Mr. and Mrs. Lincoln during their early months in Washington.
• Ask Mr. Lincoln - This unique interactive theater is a chance to ask our 16th president a question and receive the answer in his own words.

The museum also incorporates a fake White House, Lincoln's birth cabin, and a funeral scene.

[04/12/2005]

February 10, 2012