Press Room

PRESS RELEASE
September 23, 2009

PRESS CONTACTS: Tabari McCoy, (513) 287-7054, tmccoy@cincymuseum.org; or Ben Cober, (513) 373-3242, bcober@cincymuseum.org

President Lincoln to make ‘historic’ appearance at Cincinnati Museum Center
Opening of new interactive exhibit at Public Landing continues celebration of 16th president's bicentennial

CINCINNATI – When the president comes to town, it’s a grand occasion. Saturday, Sept. 26, the opening of a new store at Cincinnati Museum Center will be a historic affair for all ages.

Schrader’s Store, a new addition to the Public Landing area of the Cincinnati History Museum, will celebrate its grand opening at 1 p.m., Saturday, Sept. 26 with a special guest: President Abraham Lincoln. Modeled after a mid-1800s general store, Schrader’s is designed to be a highly interactive area for all ages with plenty of dry goods, games, puzzles and a dress shop. The store was recently featured on Cincinnati Museum Center's online video feature, MyMuseum Center in a Minute.

To help celebrate the grand opening, President Lincoln (portrayed by local first person interpreter Stanley Wentz) will cut the ribbon opening the store at 1 p.m. before speaking about the 13th Amendment at 2 p.m. The appearance will also complement Lincoln Originals at Cincinnati Museum Center, an online exhibit celebrating the life and legacy of the 16th president of the United States.

The exhibit consists of approximately a dozen documents, arranged chronologically, spanning 1859-1864, including a letter from Lincoln to Secretary of the Treasury Salmon Chase and a handwritten copy of his Proclamation of Amnesty and Reconstruction. Both events are part of Cincinnati Museum Center’s ongoing effort to provide engaging experiences with history in across multiple platforms for visitors of all ages.

WHAT: Grand opening of Schrader’s Store with a speech by President Abraham Lincoln (Stanley Wertz) on the 13th Amendment
WHEN: 1 p.m. (ribbon cutting); 2 p.m. (speech) Saturday, Sept. 26
WHERE: Schrader’s Store, next to the print shop, Public Landing, Cincinnati History Museum, Cincinnati Museum Center

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Cincinnati Museum Center at Union Terminal is a nationally recognized institution dedicated to sparking community dialogue, insight and inspiration. As one of the top cultural attractions in the Midwest, Cincinnati Museum Center has served as an educational, research and entertainment resource to millions of visitors from around the world.

Organizations within Museum Center include the Cincinnati History Museum, Duke Energy Children's Museum, the Museum of Natural History & Science, the Robert D. Lindner Family OMNIMAX® Theater, and the Cincinnati Historical Society Library. These organizations combine to serve more than one million visitors annually, reaching out to nearly 400,000 young people through hands-on exhibits and programs.

Originally built in 1933 as a train station, Union Terminal stands as one of the last remaining grand-scale Art Deco style railroad terminals. The building is a National Historic Landmark and was renovated and reopened as Cincinnati Museum Center in 1990.For information, call 1-800-733-2077 or visit www.cincymuseum.org.

Cincinnati Museum Center gratefully acknowledges operating and capital support from the Carol Ann and Ralph V. Haile, Jr./U.S. Bank Foundation, the City of Cincinnati, Hamilton County and the State of Ohio.