Showing posts with label White House Historical Association. Show all posts
Showing posts with label White House Historical Association. Show all posts

Thursday, February 26, 2009

Random Lincoln News: Spielberg, Podcasts, and a New Website

Three bits of short information to pass along today. Last week, I wrote about recent information about Steven Spielberg's long-planned Lincoln movie. Earlier this week, Spielberg's publicist confirmed that the award-winning director plans on shooting the movie sometime in 2009. Read the brief confirmation given to a reporter from Entertainment Weekly. Despite the financial and legal issues involved, I imagine that Spielberg will get to do what he wants.

I'm still coming across bicentennial week features about Abraham Lincoln. Bloomberg.com featured a series of five Lincoln podcasts with scholars like Harold Holzer and James McPherson. (A tip of the hat to Samuel Wheeler at his Lincoln Studies site for uncovering these interviews.) I've listened to the solid interview with McPherson and look forward to listening to the others during upcoming trips to the gym. Here are links to the podcasts:
Earlier this week, I wrote about a new educational site designed to introduce middle school students to the Lincoln White House, sponsored by the White House Historical Association. Last night, I found another new online resource, Lincoln's Commute, sponsored by the White House Historical Association and President Lincoln's Cottage at the Soldier's Home. This site, appropriate for all ages, shows some of what Abraham Lincoln would have seen on his roughly three-mile commute in the summer month's between the Soldier's Home and the White House. There is a short film and the ability to learn about various locations and people along Lincoln's normal route.

Tuesday, February 24, 2009

Visit Mr. Lincoln's White House Online

The White House Historical Association has released an new online educational site allowing people to visit the White House on January 1, 1863 -- the day the Emancipation Proclamation was signed. Geared for middle school age students, "President Lincoln's White House: An Emancipation Day Visit" allows you to pick one of five roles -- messenger, widow, congressman, diplomat, spy -- and move around a few public rooms at the White House where historical people speak to your character.

I spent a few minutes poking around, and it seems like a good educational tool. It's a bit low-tech (after all, it is a free online program), but it should serve its purpose. The one challenge is that there doesn't seem to be anything for the characters to do except walk around and click on things to receive information -- so I'm not sure how long it will hold a student's attention.

You can visit yourself (or escort a school age visitor), by following this link.