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Indiana's First National Park Celebrates 50 Years

Posted on February 6, 2012



Lincoln Boyhood National Memorial, Indiana's first national park, will celebrate its 50th anniversary throughout 2012.

"Fifty years ago, the site for Lincoln Boyhood National Memorial was set aside to preserve and protect the legacy of Abraham Lincoln in Indiana, capping a long tradition of commemoration and remembrance within the local community," says Historian and Special Events Coordinator Emily Thompson. "This year, we celebrate the history and creation of Lincoln Boyhood National Memorial, and mark its importance in local and national history."

To commemorate 50 years, the National Park Service will host several celebratory events including a week-long festival and a conference focusing on 26 memorial sites within the national park system.

The annual Lincoln Day event will feature a talk by the author of Reading with Lincoln, Robert Bray, and a pilgrimage to the gravesite of Nancy Hanks Lincoln on Sunday, February 19 at 2:00 pm CST.

The park will host a variety of family-friendly events from July 7-10, including a classic car show and special events to celebrate 1962 memories.

On February 12, 1962, President John F. Kennedy signed the legislation establishing Lincoln Boyhood National Memorial as a unit of the national park system. The formal transfer of the site from the State of Indiana to the National Park Service took place in a ceremony in front of the Memorial Visitor Center on July 10, 1962.

Lincoln Boyhood National Memorial is located in Lincoln City, Indiana, where visitors can learn about Abraham Lincoln's life in Indiana through the living historical farm, museum, and film.

Spencer County is home to nationally known attractions such as Holiday World & Splashin' Safari, Lake Rudolph Campground & RV Resort, and Lincoln's Indiana Boyhood Home with national and state parks. The Visitors Bureau encourages guests to stay overnight and visit the many attractions, shops, and restaurants.

For more information about Lincoln's Indiana Boyhood Home, call (888) 444-9252 or visit www.IndianasAbeLincoln.org. Also, find Lincoln's Indiana Boyhood Home and Santa Claus, Indiana, on the Visitor Bureau's free app for iPhones and Androids by searching "Holiday World & More!" and on any mobile device at http://m.IndianasAbeLincoln.org.