We so enjoyed having Charlie Whinham of Louisiana Public Broadcasting (WLPB -TV) join us on our trip from St. Francisville to Baton Rouge, La. He put together a great story about our recreation of Abraham Lincoln's 1828 flatboat journey for the Louisiana - The State We're In program he hosts. It aired Friday, Oct. 10, on eight LPB affiliates across the state. The program is Louisiana’s only statewide news magazine and one of the longest-running television programs in the nation. We feel so honored to have been featured! Click here to watch the video clip from LPB!
After 26 days on the river, 8 states and 23 towns, Lincoln's Journey of Remembrance ended Saturday in New Orleans.
Our crew huddled up on shore to re-cap our journey just after landing and all agreed the venture was a tremendous success.
We shared the story of Lincoln's youth in Spencer County, Indiana, with thousands of people along our trip route. Many came to see our replica flatboat in person, while others simply learned about our journey by reading their local newspaper or watching the evening news.
One of our most rewarding experiences alogn the way was working with the many school groups who came to visit the flatboat. It was a priveledge to share with them the inspiring story of Abraham Lincoln. I hope they learned that if they too work hard, in this country, they can accomplish amazing things!
The end of the jourey is bittersweet for most of our crew. Though the trip has been physically demanding and mentally exausting and we welcome a return to the routine of our normal daily lives, it is sad to see the project we've worked so hard on for so long come to an end.
But we know, Lincoln's Legacy will endure forever and we are satisfied with the knowledge that we in some small part helped to preserve it.
Baton Rouge Shows Us the Definition of Southern Hospitality!
We were amazed at the efforts of the community of Baton Rouge as they welcomed Lincoln's Journey of Remembrance. We docked Wednesday afternoon at the USS Kidd & Veterans Memorial, a World War II era battleship. On Thursday morning we had an amazing story in The Advocate, by our friends Rick Harris and Ed Cullen, who rode our flatboat from Natchez, MS, to St. Francisville, LA earlier in the week.
Baton Rouge Mayor Kip Holden presented us with a proclaimation making the day, Lincoln's Journey of Remembrance Day in Baton Rouge that afternoon. Later in the evening we enjoyed a reception hosted by the Foundation for Historical Louisiana at The Old Governor's Mansion.
Our trip to Natchez proved one of our most adventurous as some of our crew took a tour of the St. Christine Swamp, where they shot aligators......shot them with cameras that is!
In Natchez we were hosted by the Natchez National Historical Park, who invited us to make a presentation on our trip at the Visitor's Center Auditorium. Tim Van Cleave, park guide, conducted a considerable amount of research into Lincoln's connections to Natchez, including research on his flatboat attack believed to have occured in Natchez.
Our boat was docked at the foot of Roth Hill Road, where a crowd of about 200 people came to visit us.
While in Natchez we enjoyed a delicious lunch at Mammy's Cupboard. A resturant built inside a 28-foot tall woman's skirt! Everything from the bread to the pie was made from scratch.
The Lincoln's Journey crew visited Vicksburg, MS, on Sept. 28. The Vicksburg Convention & Visitors Bureau helped us plan a great day at their riverfront. They provided a five piece band and free bottles of Coca-Cola for everyone who came. We didn't know before this trip that Coke was first bottled in Vicksburg! Some of our crew members visited Vicksburg's Coca-Cola Museum and learned more about Civil War History at the Vicksburg National Military Park. Like many of the communities we visited, we wished he had more time to stay and exlpore all their local historic sites.
Lincoln's Journey visited Helena, Ark., on Sept. 24. Our crew enjoyed a visit to the Delta Culture Center in Helena, which is a museum dedicated to the history of the Arkansas Delta. The museum interprets the history of the Delta through exhibits, educational programs, annual events, and guided tours. Come in and experience what the Delta has to offer. Currently the museum is hosting an exhibit on the delta blues, “Helena: Main Street of the Blues” gives a unique perspective of the delta’s rich blues music history.
