Lincoln

A compelling, fresh perspective on the life and legacy of Abraham Lincoln, as revealed through the unrivaled collection of the Abraham Lincoln Presidential Library and Museum.

This meticulously researched book—featuring 100 historically significant artifacts—weaves together expert commentary, poignant anecdotes, and beautiful photographs to bring to life rare, personal items and the most iconic items and documents from Lincoln’s life and tenure as president.

Following the journey visitors take through this world-famous museum, chapters immerse readers in pivotal moments in Lincoln’s life, transforming them into vibrant vignettes—from the desk where he penned his thoughts to keep a nation together to the Gettysburg Address where he considered a new birth of freedom and even the last spoon he used on that fateful April 1865 evening.

As readers experience the weight of Lincoln’s struggles and triumphs in a profoundly tangible way, the book transforms from a collection of objects to a gateway into the essence of a man who shaped a nation. The book not only serves as an informative resource for the public, students, and enthusiasts but also makes history come alive.

Ian Hunt has served as the chief of acquisitions and special projects at the Abraham Lincoln Presidential Library and Museum since 2016. Hunt has written frequently about the Civil War and Lincoln, and has appeared in numerous publications as well as on television and radio. Christina Shutt is the executive director of the Abraham Lincoln Presidential Library and Museum. JB Pritzker is the governor of Illinois. The Abraham Lincoln Presidential Library and Museum’s mission is to inspire civic engagement through the legacy of Abraham Lincoln and its collection of roughly 50,000 items from the Lincoln family.