A new exhibition at the Abraham Lincoln Presidential Library and Museum in Springfield is painting a homey picture of Illinois, shedding light on the diverse experiences of its residents through stories and artifacts, as reported by the Chicago Tribune. Entitled “Here I Have Lived: Home in Illinois,” visitors get a taste of what life was like for both well-known figures and everyday citizens who have found a sense of belonging in the Prairie State.
Featuring tales from the likes of comedy icon Richard Pryor to the domestic endeavors of Mary Todd Lincoln, the exhibit is no one-trick pony, showcasing Illinois as a melting pot of historical significance, including the struggles and triumphs experienced by its denizens, WGEM adds personal stories hailing from all corners of the state, ranging from Ronald Reagan's nomadic childhood, marked by his father's search for work leading the family to crisscross the state, to the story of Gabriela Ramirez, who grew up translating English for her non-English speaking Mexican parents in Chicago.
Christina Shutt, the museum's executive director, emphasized the exhibit's aim to create an immersive experience of "that sense of home and community" and draw focus to the untold narratives of ordinary Illinoisans interspersed with those of its more celebrated residents, "We wanted you to feel that sense of home and community when you stepped in," Shutt told WGEM. Artifacts like Reagan's Eureka College memorabilia and Tina Turner's dress from a Tonight Show appearance add a tangible element to these portraits of homegrown stories.
The exhibit also makes a point to highlight the influential women of Illinois—spotlighting the achievements of individuals such as former first lady Michelle Obama, who climbed from her humble South Shore origins to the White House, and the indomitable spirit of Lorraine Hansberry, whose battles with racial segregation in Chicago's South Side neighborhoods inspired the groundbreaking play "A Raisin in the Sun," her family's harrowing experiences directly translating into the DNA of her work, according to the Chicago Tribune.
Set against a backdrop that ranges from a child's recollection of racial naiveté to the Supreme Court triumph against housing discrimination, the exhibit strives to show Illinois as more than just a pit stop in America's heartland, but as a hub of rich and diverse stories—the fabric of which the exhibit itself is a part. "We are made up of so many rich and interesting and colorful and beautiful, and just incredible stories of people and of places," Shutt relayed with evident pride. The exhibition, which opened on March 23, runs through January 21, 2024, and is included with regular museum admission.
