Children will be able to learn what it means to be good citizens and good neighbors in a new program offered by the Abraham Lincoln Presidential Library and Museum as a prelude to its upcoming “Citizen City” exhibit.
The “Citizen City Learning Series” consists of six sessions of stories, problem-solving and hands-on activities designed for children from kindergarten through fifth grade. The first session, on Sept. 19, focuses on how to be a good neighbor. Other sessions coming over the next seven months cover topics such as “community helper,” “explore your town” and “construction day.”
Many of the same themes will be featured in the museum’s permanent new exhibit, Citizen City, opening in 2027.
“Abraham Lincoln showed us the importance of being a good citizen, from helping others to building community to standing up for what’s right. We want to help children follow his example,” said Christina Shutt, executive director of the Abraham Lincoln Presidential Library and Museum. “Both the Citizen City exhibit and the learning series will offer fun, creative tools to engage children and teach them lessons that can last a lifetime.”
Each session in the learning series comes with a special sticker that kids can place on official Citizen City hardhats. Children who attend five of the six sessions will earn “Citizen City Founding Citizen” certificates and be invited to a special preview of the exhibit before it opens to the public.
The dates and topics of the sessions are:
- Sept. 19 Good Neighbor
- Nov. 21 Community Helpers
- Jan. 23 Construction Day
- Feb. 27 Maps & Neighborhoods
- March 20 Young Impact Makers
- April 10 History of Our Community
For more details and to register for the sessions, visit PresidentLincoln.Illinois.gov/citizen-city-learning-series. The sessions will be offered twice each day, once in the morning and once in the afternoon. Space is limited.
“People of all ages can learn from Abraham Lincoln’s example. We love to help children have fun while they also absorb important lessons that prepare them for the future,” said Cindy Klenke, the ALPLM’s education director.
The Citizen City exhibit will be a hands-on experience for ages 3–9 that will introduce young visitors to community, citizenship and Abraham Lincoln’s enduring belief in the power of ordinary people to shape the future. Through immersive play and storytelling, children will explore a vibrant city built just for them – harvesting vegetables, helping neighbors, solving problems and discovering how small actions can make a big difference.
