How to Celebrate Abraham Lincoln's 200th Birthday

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By Michele Rappoport
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It's Abraham Lincoln's 200th Birthday!

Thursday, February 12, 2009, marks the 200th anniversary of the birth of Abraham Lincoln, America's 16th -- and perhaps most beloved -- president. Here are some ways to celebrate President Lincoln's 200th birthday.

Difficulty: Easy

Instructions

Step 1

BAKE A CAKE... But not just any cake. Try your hand at Mary Todd Lincoln's Cinnamon Apple Sponge Cake. For the recipe, see "Resources" below.
Step 2

PICK A QUOTE... Lincoln's writings are full of moving, eloquent and often humorous quotations. Pick one and add it to the signature line in your emails.
Step 3

ACT LIKE LINCOLN... Take time to reflect on the man's principles and perhaps bring some of his wisdom into your day. An excellent book to read, especially for anyone working in an office, is "Lincoln on Leadership" by Donald T. Phillips.
Step 4

VISIT A LINCOLN SITE... If you're in the nation's capital, stop by the Lincoln Memorial, Ford's Theater or the Library Congress, where a special exhibit in honor of the president's 200th birthday begins February 12. The Library has a large collection of Lincoln writings and artifacts, including the original Gettysburg address and the contents of his pockets from the night he was shot.... If you live in the Midwest, Springfield, Illinois, is infused with the spirit of Lincoln. You can visit his home, his law office, the train station from where he left for Washington, and the old state capitol, where he served as state legislator for many years.
Step 5

REALLY GET TO KNOW THE MAN... It's probably safe to say that more has been written about Abraham Lincoln than about any other famous person. Why not take this opportunity to read one of the classic books about him? A few you might want to read: "With Malice Toward None" (biography by Stephen Oates), "Lincoln" (Pulitzer-Prize-winning biography by David Donald), "Lincoln" (a two-volume collection of Lincoln's speeches and other writings published by The Library of America), "Lincoln at Gettysburg: The Words That Remade America" (a study of The Gettysburg Address by Garry Wills), and "Team of Rivals" (about Lincoln and his cabinet by Doris Kearns Goodwin). These are just a sampling of many fine books about Lincoln. Talk to your librarian for other recommendations.