2024 Lincoln Essay and Art Contest
Deadline for Submissions: Friday, April 5
Winners Announced: Friday, April 26
“We are not enemies, but friends. We must not be enemies. Though passion may have strained, it must not break our bonds of affection. The mystic chords of memory, stretching from every battlefield and patriot grave to every living heart and hearthstone all over this broad land, will yet swell the chorus of the Union, when again touched, as surely they will be, by the better angels of our nature.”
When President Lincoln spoke these words in 1861, he stepped forward to lead a nation divided by civil war. When re-elected in 1864, he made it his mission to end that war, and begin the process of national healing and reunification. In many ways, we are still living through that process of repairing to this day.
This year at the Forbes House Museum, we are celebrating two anniversaries. The 160th anniversary of Lincoln’s re-election, and the 100th anniversary of our Lincoln log cabin replica, here on the museum grounds. On May 11, we will celebrate the cabin’s centennial anniversary and host the Lincoln Contest awards ceremony.
The log cabin is an authentic recreation of the small home in rural Kentucky where it was believed that Abraham Lincoln was born. From humble beginnings, he left a lasting legacy for all of history. When Mary Bowditch Forbes oversaw the building of the Lincoln log cabin replica in 1923/1924, she did so in order to “create an inclusive space where everyone would feel welcome, and inspire visitors that they too might achieve great things.”
ESSAY PROMPT, Grades 6-8
(600 word maximum)
Mary Forbes clearly admired Lincoln for many reasons, including the challenges he faced in both his political and personal lives and for his unflagging efforts to keep our nation together. Identify someone living today who has faced their own challenges and whose current work is an effort to overcome differences and bring people together. Describe in detail the challenges that person faced. How can that figure be compared to Lincoln? How do the two figures differ?
ART PROMPT, Grades K-5
(Maximum size 18”x24”)
Imagine you are helping us plan the cabin’s centennial celebration and it’s up to you to choose someone to give a speech. It should be someone who inspires you and who helps bring people together – much like Mary was inspired by Lincoln. Who would you invite to give the speech? Create a picture of the person and include their name on the front. If you want, you can include details to give a fuller picture of the Lincoln Cabin celebration – the decorations, the crowds, etc. On the back, write a few sentences about why you chose that person.
All entries must include the following information:
- Name
- Grade
- School
- Teacher’s name
- Parent or guardian name
- Email address for parent or guardian
Essays and artwork can be dropped off at the Museum office or mailed to:
2024 Lincoln Essay and Drawing Contest
Forbes House Museum
215 Adams Street
Milton, MA 02186
The Museum will also accept essay submissions only (no artwork) by e-mail:
The essay should be sent as a word document or PDF to info@forbeshousemuseum.org
The subject line of the e-mail must read: Lincoln Essay 2024
Contest winners and their families will be invited to a special awards ceremony on the Museum grounds on Saturday, May 11.
Upon submission, essays and drawings become the property of the Forbes House Museum and remain in our archives at the Museum’s discretion. The FHM reserves the right to reproduce essays and artworks for publicity and promotion of the Museum and its programs, which includes press releases, social media, brochures, posters and postcards.