Central Library Hosting Renowned Lincoln Exhibit

Ava Ehde, Library Services Manager and a grant committee member, sees the relevance of Lincoln today and believes it's one of the benefits of the exhibit.

“He’s one of my heroes,” said Ehde. “I think he had a lot of foresight and enough core understanding of how this country could really gel. He really worked hard to make that happen and everything he did was along that line.”    

The exhibit will also feature several events throughout its run. A few of the events include: Steal Away: The Story of a Homesteader and an Exoduster, performed and written by Penny Musco. The one-woman show will present a dramatic dialogue detailing the “greatest black migration that America has never heard of.” Saturday August 16 at 2 p.m.

The Florida Public Archaeology Network will give a presentation on Civil War Shipwrecks. Monday, August 18 at 6 p.m.

Did Lincoln Abuse the Powers of the Presidency? will be a presentation by USF professor, Dr. John Belohlavek, who specializes in 19th Century Political and Diplomatic History. Monday, August 25 at 6 p.m.

Staff works to assemble the exhibit before its opening.

There will also be live music from the 97th Regimental String Band, a musical time machine. They will be presenting a live performance of Civil War Soldier. Their performance is described as “patriotic, comic, and sentimental songs of both sides.” Saturday, August 30 at 2:00 p.m.

Spirit Voices from Old Manatee, presented by Phaedra Rehorn and Melissa Porter will detail Judah P. Benjamin’s escape to the United Kingdom following the Civil War. Rehorn and Porter will also recount the experiences of women living in Manatee County during the war.

All performances and presentations will be held at the Central Library located at 1301 Barcarrota Blvd. West Bradenton, FL. For additional information about the exhibit and the corresponding events, please check the library’s website at www.mymanatee.org/library or call 941-748-5555.