On my vacation back to Illinois in late May, I resolved that I would do the tourist thing and go to Springfield to visit the new Lincoln Museum. While I did enjoy it, and did learn a few new things about the President, it definitely left me with an odd feeling. Not quite disappointment or anger, but not quite admiration or approval either.
This explains my feelings
The whole place seemed rather Disney-fied. From the slick films, to the construction of the exhibits, to the cafeteria with the cutesy food names, it felt like I was in a new Disney theme zone at the Magic Kingdom, HistoryLand, or something of that sort.
Now, this isn't an entirely negative feeling. The museum had some really neat exhibits and artifacts. The life-size recreation of the cabinet room with Lincoln reading the Emancipation Proclamation was awesome, the political cartoon room was awesome, and the recreation of the casket lying in state at the Old Capitol in Springfield almost made you feel like you really were there. It is most definitely a way to introduce the common man to Lincoln, even though there is a little too much deification of the man.
However, I can't help but feel the Disney slickness of the exhibits cheapens the power, and integrity, of the museum somewhat. Also, various rooms of the museum being sponsored by corporations made me a little uneasy, and worries me about a possible precedent being set for our national and state park. Theme-park history is a little dangerous, and can easily slide into something that is neither historical nor particularly entertaining.
In the end, however, I think it is a definite positive, and a fine anchor for the prospective tourism industry in Central Illinois. Lincoln is still one of the dominating figures of our culture, and in this time of political mediocrity, the lessons to be learned from his successes (and failures) are very important.
P.S.: Here is the second article to go with the first one. Too bad they didn't go with the hot stove idea for the Law Office room.
No comments:
Post a Comment