Unveiling of New Lincoln Statue Set for July 4
A new Lincoln statue, complete with a bronze hand, will be unveiled July 4 in Macomb, thanks to a $12,130 grant tied to the nation's 250th anniversary celebration.
The statue will be added to Macomb's 'Looking for Lincoln Self-Guided Tour,” a collection of 10 sites across McDonough County tied to Abraham Lincoln's 1858 visit to the region. The grant, awarded by the Illinois Arts Council, recognizes the county's designation as an Abraham Lincoln National Heritage Area and supports the state's broader effort to commemorate America's 250th anniversary.
'We're really excited to be adding this to our tour and to pay tribute to this particular time in our county's history, especially as we celebrate McDonough County's Bicentennial in conjunction with the nation's 250th anniversary,' said Jock Hedblade, executive director of the Macomb Area Convention and Visitors Bureau.
The statue uses an antique mold that the Macomb Area Convention and Visitors Bureau purchased several years ago from Architecture Artifacts in Chicago. The original mold, created in the 1960s by an unknown artist, depicts Lincoln without his beard, a version known as the 'Illinois Lincoln.' Western Illinois University Art Professor Duke Oursler figured out how to adapt the mold for the project, pouring the concrete and creating the bronze hand that allows visitors to pose for photos 'shaking hands' with the president. Oursler, who created the Lincoln topiary on the lawn of Macomb City Hall, said the statue represents a tangible connection to a pivotal moment in American history.
'This gives people a chance to literally touch history,' Oursler said. 'The bronze hand makes it personal. It's not just looking at a monument, it's engaging with it.'
The 'Looking for Lincoln Self-Guided Tour' officially launched in 2020 after a nearly two-year application process to secure the county's Abraham Lincoln National Heritage Area designation. The tour includes 10 significant sites throughout Macomb and McDonough County: the Living Lincoln Topiary Monument, McDonough County Courthouse, The Randolph House, Oakwood Cemetery, The Blandin House Museum, the Civil War Monument, and the Wm. Painter Pearson Photography Studio site, among others.
Each marker features QR codes that direct visitors to detailed online information about the sites, including in-depth history, photos, maps, and video featuring a Lincoln impersonator providing 'firsthand' descriptions.
Visitors can also download a free mobile app called 'Looking for Lincoln Adventure' through their smartphone's app store, or print a brochure at tinyurl.com/Looking-4LincolnTourMacomb.
The grant is part of a statewide initiative by the Illinois Arts Council in partnership with Gov. JB Pritzker's office and Illinois Humanities. Twenty-two public art projects across Illinois were selected to celebrate the nation's historic anniversary, with projects ranging from Elgin to East St. Louis, Effingham to Anna, and Rockford to Rock Island.
'Illinois is proud to support new public art projects in communities across the state as we celebrate our unique place in the story of America,' Pritzker said. 'Thanks to these IAC grants, we're helping Illinois' talented creatives bring vibrance to our public spaces, celebrate our local history, and energize our cultural communities.'
For more information about events, programs, and attractions in Macomb and McDonough County, visit visitforgottonia. com.
