89th Watchorn Lincoln Dinner
Watch the 2021 Watchorn Lincoln Dinner on the Special Collections YouTube channel. The reimagined event includes past Lincoln Dinner speakers, music, and an appearance by President Lincoln!
Resilient Redlands Webinar Series
If you crave opportunities to learn during your time at home, partake in the “Resilient Redlands” webinar series that will focus on topics related to Redlands history and the collections of the Lincoln Memorial Shrine. Webinars will take place at 11am on the second and fourth Saturday of each month and will be led by the staff of A.K. Smiley Public Library and Lincoln Memorial Shrine. Watch live on Smiley Library’s Facebook page.
Upcoming Webinars
Black History Month Series – Register for series
February 6 – “African American literature” by Professor Charles Williams of Chaffey College
February 13 – “Lincoln’s Greatest Decision: Emancipation and the Use of Black Troops” with Smiley Library Director Don McCue
February 20 – “Black Voice News and the History of the Black Press” by Dr. Paulette Brown-Hinds
February 27 – “Hidden in Plain Sight: African Americans in the Library’s Historic Collections” with Archivist Dr. Nathan Gonzales
Past Webinars
April 25 – “Intro to Redlands History”
May 2 – “From the Shrine’s Collections: Emancipation and Lincoln’s Letter to James Conkling”
May 9 – “The Great Crusade: Reflections on the 75th Anniversary of the End of World War II in Europe”
May 16 – “All Aboard for Redlands: How the Railroad Shaped Our Town”
May 23 – “From the Shrine’s Collections: The U.S. Sanitary Commission”
May 30 – “Redlands History in Motion: The Home Movie Preservation Project”
June 6 – “Reflections on D-Day and the Normandy Campaign”
June 13 – “From the Shrine’s Collections: Colonel Chapin and the 21st Connecticut Infantry”
June 27– “California Sunshine: Citrus Label Art of the Redlands District”
July 11 – “Grant’s First Great Victory: The Campaign for Forts Henry & Donelson”
July 25 – “Let’s Take a Walk Around the Block: A Brief Survey of Architecture in Redlands”
August 8 – “Hiroshima-Nagasaki: Reflections on the 75th Anniversary”
September 12 –“Booze, Brews, and Views: Redlands’s Uneasy Relationship with Spiritous Beverage”
September 26 – “Warriors & Patriots: Women of the Civil War”
October 10 – “Pure Gold Archives”
October 24 – “The Smiley Library Children’s Room Centennial: The Couple Behind the Gift”
November 14 – “Redlands and the Influenza Pandemic, 1918-1919”
December 12 –“The Smiley’s and Christmases Past”
January 9 –“The Civil War in Southern California”
January 23 – “Redlands: The Town That Philanthropy Built”
Watch previous webinars on Smiley Library’s Facebook page the Special Collections YouTube channel.
To learn more about how you can contribute to “Resilient Redlands: COVID-19 and Our Town”, click here.
In observance of Martin Luther King Jr. Day, the Lincoln Memorial Shrine will be closed on Sunday, January 19, 2020.
48th Annual Open House
Join us at the Lincoln Shrine Open House on Saturday, February 8th from 11am to 3pm at the Lincoln Memorial Shrine and Smiley Park. The day will feature live music, Civil War reenactors, and new exhibits. The event is free and open to the public. You won’t want to miss it!
88th Annual Lincoln Dinner
The Lincoln Memorial Shrine will honor Abraham Lincoln at the Watchorn Lincoln Dinner on Wednesday, February 12 at 6:30pm in University of Redlands’s Orton Center. Dr. Douglas Egerton of Le Moyne College in Syracuse, New York will deliver a keynote address “Lincoln and Black Soldiers”.
Attendance to the Lincoln Dinner is $49 for supporters of the Lincoln Memorial Association who give in January 2019, and $59 for the general public. Advanced reservations are required and will remain open until February 5, or until sold out, whichever comes first. For reservations or for more information, please call (909)798-7632 or email heritage@akspl.org.
The Lincoln Memorial Shrine will be closed December 24 and 25 in observance of the Christmas holiday and December 31 and January 1 in observance of the New Year.
Civil War Christmas Carols on December 21st
The Lincoln Memorial Shrine invites you to celebrate the holiday season with Civil War Christmas Carols by the Camp Carleton Band on Saturday, December 21st at 11am in the Assembly Room of A.K. Smiley Public Library. From timeless classics like “Deck the Halls” and “Silent Night”, to songs that have dropped out of popular use, come, sing, and learn about the holiday music of the Civil War.
The event is free and open to the public. Reservations are not required. This event draws a large crowd each year, so early arrival is strongly recommended. For more information, please contact the Heritage Room at (909)798-7632 or heritage@akspl.org.
The Lincoln Memorial Shrine will be closed from Thursday, November 28 to Sunday, December 1st in observance of Thanksgiving.
The Lincoln Memorial Shrine will be closed on Sunday, November 10th in observance of Veterans Day.
The Lincoln Memorial Shrine will be closed on Sunday, October 13th in observance of Columbus Day.
The Lincoln Memorial Shrine will be closed on Sunday, September 1st in observance of Labor Day.
Don’t Miss the Lincoln Dinner on February 12
The Lincoln Memorial Shrine will honor Abraham Lincoln at the 87th annual Watchorn Lincoln Dinner on Tuesday, February 12 at 6:30pm in the University of Redlands’s Orton Center. Dr. Caroline Janney, Director of the Nau Center for Civil War History at the University of Virginia will deliver the keynote address “Surrender in the Wake of Lincoln’s Assassination.”
Attendance to the Lincoln Dinner is $49 for members of the Lincoln Memorial Association who join or renew in January 2019, and $59 for the general public. Advanced reservations are required and will remain open until February 6. For reservations or for more information, please call (909)798-7632 or email heritage@akspl.org.
Historian Michael K. Shaffer to Speak to Civil War Round Table
Historian Michael K. Shaffer will be the featured speaker at the upcoming meeting of the Inland Empire Civil War Round Table on Wednesday, January 9th at 6:30pm in the Assembly Room of A.K. Smiley Public Library.
Shaffer will discuss the battlefield experiences of Confederate Thomas W. Colley who served in the 1st Virginia Cavalry, one of the most active units of the Civil War. Colley joined the unit in 1861 and participated in battles from the Battle of First Bull Run in 1861 to the Battle of Haw’s Shop in 1864. Shaffer will have copies available of his biography of Colley, In Memory of Self and Comrades: Thomas W. Colley’s Recollections of Civil War Service in the 1st Virginia Cavalry.
The program is free and open to the public. Registration is requested, but not required. The Lincoln Memorial Shrine is located at 125 W. Vine Street in Redlands. For more information, please contact the Heritage Room at (909)798-7632.
History Comes to life at the Lincoln Shrine on February 9
Celebrate President Abraham Lincoln at the 47th annual Lincoln Shrine Open House on Saturday, February 9 from 11am to 3pm at the Lincoln Memorial Shrine and Smiley Park. The day will feature live music, Civil War reenactors, and a chance to see “Reflections of the Face of Lincoln,” the most life-like animatronic Lincoln ever created. The event is free and open to the public. You won’t want to miss it!
The Lincoln Memorial Shrine is a part of the division of Special Collections of A.K. Smiley Public Library and is the only museum and research center in the west focusing solely on Lincoln and the American Civil War. The museum is located at 125 W. Vine Street in Redlands. Admission is free. For further information, please call 909-798-7632 or visit www.lincolnshrine.org.
Animatronic Abraham Lincoln Extended through March 2019
Have you seen “Reflections of the Face of Lincoln” yet? Created by Garner Holt Productions, the attraction masterfully combines theme-park magic with historical interpretation to create a truly unique experience for audiences of all ages and brings history to life in a way never-before-seen in the Lincoln Memorial Shrine.
Since opening to the public in July, the innovative attraction has drawn thousands of visitors to the museum. Generous gifts from Shrine supporters have allowed school tours to see the attraction at no cost. While originally slated to close in December, its stay has now been extended through March 31, 2019. This is definitely an experience you won’t want to miss!
“Reflections of the Face of Lincoln” show times begin every twenty minutes during the Shrine’s hours of operation: Tuesday-Sunday, 1-5pm. Tickets are $5 per person and can be purchased upon arrival. For more information or to schedule a group tour, please call the Heritage Room at (909)798-7632.
The Lincoln Memorial Shrine will be closed on January 1 in observance of New Years Day. Regular hours of operation will resume on Wednesday, January 2.
The Lincoln Memorial Shrine will be closed on December 23 – 25 in observance of Christmas. Regular hours of operation will resume on Wednesday, December 26.
Civil War Christmas Carols on December 15th
The Lincoln Memorial Shrine will celebrate the holiday season with Camp Carleton Christmas Carols on Saturday, December 15 at 11am in the Assembly Room of A.K. Smiley Public Library. From timeless classics like “Deck the Halls” and “Silent Night”, to songs that have dropped out of popular use, come, sing, and learn about the holiday music of the Civil War.
The event is free and open to the public. Reservations are not required. This event draws a large crowd each year, so early arrival is strongly recommended. For more information, please contact the Heritage Room at (909)798-7632 or heritage@akspl.org.
The Lincoln Memorial Shrine will be closed on Sunday, November 11 in observance of Veterans Day. Regular hours of operation will resume on Tuesday, November 13.
“Reflections of the Face of Lincoln” Debuts at the Lincoln Shrine
A little bit of theme park-style magic is coming to the Shrine. Garner Holt Productions, Inc. (GHP) created “The Lincoln Memorial Shrine Presents: Reflections of the Face of Lincoln,” an immersive presentation featuring special effects, multi-media elements, and spectacular animatronics in a moving portrait of Abraham Lincoln and the Civil War era. The star of the show is an animatronic bust of Abraham Lincoln based on GHP’s “Living Faces of History” series of animated personalities. The show is aimed at audiences of all ages as a magical tableaux of Lincoln’s eternal image and the great national struggle of the Civil War.
“Reflections of the Face of Lincoln” will be at the Lincoln Shrine from July 7 to December 29. Tickets are $5.00 each and can be purchased upon arrival. For information about group tours, please call the Heritage Room at (909)798-7632.
Shrine Helps Make Summer Learning Fun!
Beginning on June 9, the Lincoln Memorial Shrine will participate in the “Passport to Success – Making Summer Learning Fun” campaign coordinated by Families in Schools. The Shrine is one of 49 institutions in southern California who are participating in this initiative to encourage children to continue to learn during their summer break from school, a time when students can lose up to one month of instruction. “Passport to Success” reduces summer learning loss by encouraging students and families to participate in summer learning activities at local museums, science centers, libraries and cultural institutions. The campaign will run through August 20.
For more information or to join the “Passport to Success” campaign, visit: https://www.familiesinschools.org.
The Lincoln Memorial Shrine will be closed on Saturday, April 28th for a private event. Regular hours of operation will resume on Sunday, April 29th. We apologize if this causes any inconvenience.
The Lincoln Memorial Shrine will be closed on Sunday, April 1st in observance of Easter.
46th OPEN HOUSE
February 10, 2018
11am-3pm
Commemorate Abraham Lincoln and the Civil War at the annual Lincoln Shrine Open House on Saturday, February 10, 11am-3pm. For the third year, the Open House will join forces with the Lincoln Pilgrimage for a combined grand Lincolnpalloza! The day will include music, reenactor presentations, and activities for the whole family. Renowned Lincoln presenter Robert Broski will be on hand to greet visitors, along with the 7th Michigan Cavalry on horseback and the 1st Pennsylvania Light Artillery with their ever-popular cannon demonstrations. This is an event you won’t want to miss!
86th LINCOLN DINNER
February 12, 2018
The Watchorn Lincoln Memorial Association is proud to welcome Dr. Manisha Sinha as the 2018 Watchorn Lincoln Dinner speaker on Monday, February 12 at the University of Redlands Orton Center. Dr. Sinha is an historian of the transnational histories of slavery and abolition and the history of the Civil War and Reconstruction. She will discuss “Lincoln and Abolition.” Attendance at the Lincoln Dinner is $48 for members of the Lincoln Memorial Association who join or renew in January 2018, and $58 for the general public. For reservations, please call (909)798-7632 or email heritage@akspl.org.
Celebrate Lincoln’s Birthday at the Shrine!
In honor of President Abraham Lincoln’s birthday, the Lincoln Memorial Shrine will be open on Monday, February 12th and on President’s Day, Monday, February 19th, 1pm to 5pm.
Christmas and New Years:
The Lincoln Memorial Shrine will be closed on Sunday, December 24 and Tuesday, December 26 in observance of the Christmas holiday and Sunday, December 31 in observance of the New Year. Happy holidays!
Thanksgiving:
The Lincoln Memorial Shrine will be closed November 23-26 in observance of the Thanksgiving holiday. Regular hours of operation will resume on Tuesday, November 28.
Veterans Day Holiday Closure:
In observance of Veterans Day, the Lincoln Memorial Shrine will be closed on Friday, November 10 and Saturday, November 11. Regular hours of operation will resume on Sunday, November 12.
Columbus Day Holiday Closure:
The Lincoln Memorial Shrine will be closed on Sunday, October 8, 2017 in observance of Columbus Day. Regular hours of operation will resume on Tuesday, October 10.
Labor Day Holiday Closure:
The Lincoln Memorial Shrine will be closed on Sunday, September 3rd in observance of Labor Day. Regular hours of operation will resume on Tuesday, September 5th.
July 4th Holiday Closure:
The Lincoln Memorial Shrine will be closed on Tuesday, July 4th in observance of Independence Day. Regular hours of operation will resume on Wednesday, July 5th.
Lincoln Shrine Open at 10am Memorial Day Weekend
The Lincoln Memorial Shrine will open early over Memorial Day weekend. In observance of Memorial Day and in conjunction with the Redlands Festival of Arts, the Lincoln Shrine will open at 10am on May 27 and 28. We hope to see you there!
The Lincoln Memorial Shrine is part of the division of Special Collections of A.K. Smiley Public Library. For more information, please call the Heritage Room of Smiley Library at (909)798-7632.
Lincoln Shrine Open for President’s Day Weekend
February 20, 2017
1pm-5pm
Visit the Lincoln Memorial Shrine over Presidents’ Day weekend! In observance of the holiday that honors our past presidents, the Lincoln Shrine will be open on Monday, February 20, 2017, 1pm-5pm.
The Lincoln Memorial Shrine is part of the division of Special Collections of A.K. Smiley Public Library. For more information, please call the Heritage Room of Smiley Library at (909)798-7632.
Lincoln Shrine to Host Redlands in World War I Book Signing
February 15, 2017
4:00PM
The Lincoln Memorial Shrine in Redlands will host a book signing event on Wednesday February 15th at 4 PM to celebrate the publication of a new book about Redlands history. Titled Redlands in World War I, the book is co-authored by local historian Ann Deegan and three historians from Smiley Library, Don McCue, Nathan Gonzales, and Maria Carrillo. Several years ago the historians recognized that the centennial of America’s involvement in what was euphemistically known as “the war to end all wars” was approaching in 2017. Redlanders played an important role in this mostly-forgotten conflict and their stories deserve to be shared. McCue, Gonzales and Carrillo decided to collaborate with historian Ann Deegan, who created an incredible database by going through local newspapers day by day from 1917 to 1919. Without Ann’s painstaking work the book would not have possible. Ann wrote about how Redlanders volunteered or were drafted into the military, while Maria focused on the role of Redlands women and Nathan examined local endeavors to support the war effort. Don took on the story of Redlanders who served in combat “over there”.
Published by History Press, part of Arcadia Publishing, the book features 96 photographs from both the collection at the Smiley and archival repositories around the nation. All four authors will be in attendance. After that the book will be available at the Lincoln Shrine, Smiley Library and elsewhere in town. Royalties from the book will benefit the Heritage Room at Smiley Library. For further information please check out the Library’s website www.akspl.org or call the Heritage Room at (909) 798-7632.
85th LINCOLN DINNER
February 12, 2017
The Watchorn Lincoln Memorial Association welcomes Dr. Catherine Clinton as the 2017 Watchorn Lincoln Dinner speaker on Sunday, February 12 at the University of Redlands Orton Center. Dr. Clinton is Denman Professor of American History at University of Texas at San Antonio and the author of several works, including Divided House: Gender and the Civil War and Mrs. Lincoln: A Life. Her keynote address will focus on “The Loss of Lincoln.”
Attendance at the Lincoln Dinner is $47 for members of the Lincoln Memorial Association who join or renew in January 2017, and $57 for the general public. For reservations, please call (909)798-7632 or email heritage@akspl.org.
45th OPEN HOUSE
February 4, 2017
11am-3pm
Visit the Lincoln Memorial Shrine on Saturday, February 4 at 11am for the annual Lincoln Shrine Open House. For the 45th year, the Shrine celebrates the life and times of Abraham Lincoln and the American Civil War with a day of music, reenactor presentations, and activities for the whole family. Renowned Lincoln presenter Robert Broski will be on hand to greet visitors, along with the 7th Michigan Cavalry on horseback and the 1st Pennsylvania Light Artillery, whose cannon demonstrations are a highlight every year.
Given the success of the 2016 festivities, the Open House will once again be coupled with the annual Lincoln Pilgrimage, a program hosted by the Grayback District of California Inland Empire Council, Boy Scouts of America since 1940. Mark your calendar because this grand Lincolnpalooza is a can’t miss event!
Civil War Music and Gettysburg Address
November 19, 2016
10:30am
President Abraham Lincoln delivered his famous Gettysburg Address November 19, 1863 to dedicate the national cemetery there following the bloody Battle of Gettysburg the previous July. This November 19, exactly 153 years later, the Lincoln Memorial Shrine will host a special morning of Civil War-era music and recitation of Lincoln’s speech by famed Lincoln Presenter Robert Broski. Returning to the Lincoln Memorial Shrine for the event are the acclaimed Mountain Fifes & Drums from Lake Arrowhead, and Redlands’ own Camp Carleton Cornet Band. The musical extravaganza is a great experience for anyone interested in music and history! For more information, call the Lincoln Shrine at (909) 798-7632
