Hodgenville Plans Celebration in Honor of Lincoln

Frankfort (May 15, 2008) - A community-wide celebration is planned for Hodgenville on Saturday, May 31, in conjunction with dedication and unveiling ceremonies of the Boy Lincoln sculpture.

The bronze sculpture was created as part of the Kentucky Abraham Lincoln Bicentennial Commemoration. It is being placed on the Hodgenville town square opposite an existing seated statue of President Abraham Lincoln, which was created by Adolph A. Weinman and dedicated on May 31, 1909.

The Boy Lincoln sculpture was designed by the Daub-Firmin-Hendrickson Group and depicts a young Lincoln leaning against an old tree trunk on his family farm near Hodgenville. He is reading a copy of Webster's elementary spelling book, and has a linen satchel filled with ears of corn, a fishing pole, and his dog, "Honey," sitting close by.

Unveiling and dedication exercises begin at 11 a.m., but related activities will last all day. Events are free and open to the public. They include:

Flag raising ceremony at 8 a.m. on the town square
The Making of The Boy Lincoln presentation by the sculptors
Kentucky Lincoln Heritage Trail marker virtual unveiling
Kentucky Chautauqua performances
Children's pioneer games at the Boyhood Home Knob Creek Farm
Kentucky Historical Society's HistoryMobile
Viewing of the KET production, "Lincoln: I, too, am a Kentuckian"
Exhibits at the Lincoln Museum
Tours of the Abraham Lincoln Birthplace National Historic Site