By Megan Boatwright, Local News 8 Reporter
For the last 2 ½ years the Museum of Idaho has been working on a special project, different than the ones we've seen before. It all revolved around a man whose leadership defined the future of America.
This year is the bicentennial of President Abraham Lincoln's birth. To celebrate, the Museum of Idaho has put together a unique display, in which many artifacts have been gathered from private collectors. Meaning you'll probably never have the chance to see them again.
It's being called the largest Lincoln display west of the Mississippi. "This loom has a lock of hair from Lincoln's autopsy in 1865," said Rod Hansen, the man at the center of it all. "This deed box has another lock of hair from when Lincoln was reburied in 1901. They finally poured concrete over his coffin, so people would leave him alone."
Hansen has spent the last year gathering each individual piece of the exhibit. "The largest percentage came from 4 states: Idaho, Utah, Montana and Washington," Rod said. "It's truly a Northwestern exhibit."
The exhibit consists of nearly 500 pieces, commemorating Abraham Lincoln and one of the most important time periods in American history.
"This is a slave tag from Charleston, North Carolina in 1850," Hansen said, while looking into one of the many glass cases. "It's basically like a dog license."
In the upstairs rooms more hidden treasures, an entire portion dedicated to Lincoln's efforts to bring northwestern states like Idaho, into the union.
"Lincoln really had a passion for the Northwest, he was planning on expanding the country," Hansen said.
It's a sometimes heartwarming, other times heartbreaking display.
Hansen hopes it will bring people closer to understanding our 16th president.
"To be able to bring some of the civil war battlefield and some of Washington D.C. to this community," Hansen said. "I think is extraordinary."
The exhibit officially opens Friday and will run through the beginning of December.
