Historic time period: 1850–1877
A Letter to Abraham Lincoln
Abraham Lincoln was born in 1809 in a log cabin, but eventually became the 16th president of the United States and lead America through the Civil War. He is famous for freeing the slaves, saving the Union, and giving thoughtful speeches like the Gettysburg Address. His life ended in 1865 when he was assassinated.
The National Museum of American History has many objects related to Abraham Lincoln, including the top hat he wore on the night of his assassination, the model for the patent he developed, and masks of his face and hands that were created by artists planning to make sculptures of him.
Mr. Lincoln’s Whiskers is a story about an 11-year-old girl named Grace Bedell and a letter she wrote to Abraham Lincoln while he was campaigning to become president. Make learning about Abraham Lincoln fun by reading Mr. Lincoln’s Whiskers and trying out the activities below.
For more information about Abraham Lincoln, visit the Museum's online exhibition, Abraham Lincoln: An Extraordinary Life.
Read This Book
You can learn more about Abraham Lincoln in these books. Click on the book titles below for more information, or visit our complete bibliography.
More Recommended Books
- ...If You Grew Up With Abraham Lincoln by Ann McGovern
- Abraham Lincoln—The Writer: A Treasury of his Greatest Speeches and Letters by Harold Holzer
- Just a Few Words, Mr. Lincoln by Jean Fritz
Featured Book
Mr. Lincoln's Whiskers
by Karen B. Winnick
Images of Mr. Lincoln’s Whiskers by Karen Winnick. Text and illustrations (c) 1996 by Karen Winnick. Used by permission of Boyds Mills Press. All rights reserved.
Recommended Book
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Read Mr. Lincoln's Whiskers
Meet Grace Bedell and trace the story of the letter she wrote to Abraham Lincoln. Try out simple strategies to make reading together even more fun.
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Activities
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Imagining Abraham Lincoln
Use Technology
Imagine a "missing scene" from the story about Grace Bedell and her letter to Abraham Lincoln and create your own comic.
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Find Grace's Family
Learn From Objects
Explore Grace’s letter to discover clues about her family and create a Bedell family portrait.
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Mr. Lincoln's Hat
Play and Create
Create your own Lincoln top hat and try it on. How tall are you in your new top hat?
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Send a Lincoln Letter
Take a Trip
Share what you know about Abraham Lincoln by writing a letter to a family member or friend. Visit the post office to mail the letter.
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Dear Mr. President
Study in School
If Grace could do it, so can you! Write your own letter to the President of the United States of America. Ideal for the 3rd – 4th grade classroom.
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