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Francis Bicknell Carpenter’s ‘First Reading of the Emancipation Proclamation of President Lincoln,' 1864, oil on canvas. Image courtesy of Wikimedia Commons.

Henry Ford museum to display Emancipation Proclamation

Tom Hoepf
Tom Hoepf

Francis Bicknell Carpenter’s ‘First Reading of the Emancipation Proclamation of President Lincoln,' 1864, oil on canvas. Image courtesy of Wikimedia Commons.
Francis Bicknell Carpenter’s ‘First Reading of the Emancipation Proclamation of President Lincoln,’ 1864, oil on canvas. Image courtesy of Wikimedia Commons.
DETROIT (AP) – Henry Ford Museum plans to display the original Emancipation Proclamation around the clock over a three-day period free of charge.

It’s the first time the historic document will visit Michigan since 1948, according to the Henry Ford Museum, which will show it off from Monday evening through Wednesday morning.

The Emancipation Proclamation, which was issued by President Abraham Lincoln and became effective in 1863, declared all slaves “forever free” and invited black men to join the Union Army and Navy, resulting in the enlistment of approximately 200,000 freed slaves and free black people before the end of the Civil War.

It will be shown at the Dearborn museum as part of its ongoing “Discovering the Civil War” exhibit.

Doors will open to the public at 6 p.m. on Monday, and an opening ceremony is set for 6:45 p.m. Viewing of the Emancipation begins at 7 p.m., and the museum will remain open until 6 a.m. on Wednesday.

“It is truly both an honor and privilege to be able to have this precious document on display for everyone to view,” Patricia Mooradian, president of The Henry Ford, said in a statement. “This is one of our most treasured pieces of American history and Henry Ford Museum … provides the perfect setting for this emotionally stirring event.”

The Henry Ford Museum also plans to have a number of readings of the document, musical performances and a re-creation of a Civil War encampment that is to be erected on the Henry Ford Museum’s front lawn.

“Discovering the Civil War,” which is timed to the 150th anniversary of the Civil War, runs until Sept. 5.

The Henry Ford features five distinct attractions – Henry Ford Museum, Greenfield Village, The Ford Rouge Factory Tour, The Benson Ford Research Center and The Henry Ford IMAX Theatre – and draws 1.5 million visitors annually.

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Online:

http://www.thehenryford.org/events/emancipationProclamation.aspx

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Mike Householder can be reached at http://twitter.com/mikehouseholder

Copyright 2011 Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

AP-WF-06-19-11 1233GMT

 

ADDITIONAL IMAGE OF NOTE

Francis Bicknell Carpenter’s ‘First Reading of the Emancipation Proclamation of President Lincoln,' 1864, oil on canvas. Image courtesy of Wikimedia Commons.
Francis Bicknell Carpenter’s ‘First Reading of the Emancipation Proclamation of President Lincoln,’ 1864, oil on canvas. Image courtesy of Wikimedia Commons.