Constitution Center Marks 150th Anniversary of Gettysburg Address
By Paul Kurtz
PHILADELPHIA (CBS) -- The most famous words of Abraham Lincoln echoed through the halls of the National Constitution Center today, on this the 150th anniversary of the Gettysburg Address.
A reënactor dressed as Lincoln, right down to the stovepipe hat, addressed a small crowd of students and tourists from the steps of the Constitution Center's cavernous lobby.
Constitution Center president and CEO Jeffrey Rosen says it was altogether fitting and proper to bring Lincoln's most famous speech back to life.
"We find that one of the best ways to bring history alive is to have reënactors -- Ben Franklin, President Lincoln. School kids and other visitors can just see someone up close, hear the words, and really connect to the historic event," he said.
The address marked the beginning of a daylong series of commemorative events that included an exhibition of Civil War relics -- including a leaf from an autograph album that was used to gather signatures at the dedication of the Gettysburg Cemetery, and a copy of the Emancipation Proclamation signed by Lincoln.
