Last year was the bicentennial celebration of Abraham Lincoln's birthday. As part of that celebration, the "Abraham Lincoln: Self-Made in America" exhibit is touring the U.S. and stopping in 40 locations nationwide. Four of those locations are in California, with one in the Central Valley.
Oakhurst was chosen for the exhibit because of Lincoln's official support and signature while the Civil War was going on which granted Yosemite Valley and the Mariposa Grove to the state of California. Although the land was later given back to the federal government, the Yosemite Grant Act was an important event that began California's state park system as we enjoy it today.
The exhibit features documents, images and memorabilia from the president's short life, charting his beginnings as an obscure Kentucky frontiersman to ultimately become what many regard as our finest president. His career path took him into law, the Illinois state legislature and to a seat in the U.S. House of Representatives. Though not always successful, he and his tireless ambition, combined with personal integrity, made room for him in positions lesser men desired, but could not fill.
As director of the Wild Wonderful King Vintage Museum in Oakhurst, Mary Ann Hutcherson is thrilled to make room for the multifaceted exhibit honoring our 16th U.S. president.
"Seven learning stations are in the exhibit," Hutcherson said. "We also have available two teaching trunks that can be used by schools and civic groups."
Filled with artifacts, the trunks will remain at the museum, giving many folks the opportunity to learn more about this fascinating man.
In case you haven't heard of the WWKV Museum, here's a bit of modern history:
For more than 20 years Allan King and his late wife, Barbara, collected vintage clothing in the hopes of turning their collection into enough to fill a small museum. They often held fashion shows to benefit the project.
Then in 2002, with the help of Hutcherson and the Wild Wonderful Women Organization, a museum was opened. The initial exhibit featured clothing and articles from the Civil War era. Together, their mission is to foster an awareness and appreciation of the history of fashion and textiles.
New exhibits are displayed on a regular basis, including clothing from the nifty '50s, a bridal collection, Victorian fashions, ballroom slippers owned by a prominent young lady in 1790 and fashions worn through the decades of 1910-1950.
The Lincoln exhibit began at the King Vintage Museum on March 5 and will continue through April 1. Museum hours are Monday through Saturday, 9:30 a.m. to 6 p.m. and Sunday, noon to 4 p.m., with weekday mornings reserved for school tours. Cost for admission is $3. For more information call (559) 658-6999 or (559) 676-3370, or visit the Web site: kingvintagemuseum@sti.net.
(Informational sources to credit, besides Ms. Hutcherson and the WWKVM, are the Web sites of the Abraham Lincoln Presidential Library & Museum, and the White House.)
Debbie Croft writes about life in the foothill communities. She can be reached at composed@tds.net, or at her Sun-Star blog: City Girl, Country Life.
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