News

The Lincoln Library celebrates it’s 140th birthday

The Lincoln Library celebrates it’s 140th birthday

Artifacts taken out of the recently opened Time Capsule sealed since '76 Photo: Saga Communications/Will Stevenson


Springfield, IL (CAPITOL CITY NOW) – Today was the celebration of the 140th birthday of the Lincoln Library. even though the actual birthday for the library fell on the Feb 1, today Feb 2, is the day for the festivities.

Lincoln Library’s Lana Shovlin, spoke on the WTAX Morning Newswatch about what they will be doing for the library’s big birthday.

“It’s really just absolutely mind blowing when you think about how far libraries have come and how they have worked to grow with technology. Today we are celebrating that. So, from eleven to four pm at Lincoln Library, we are going to be serving cake for the public, so come and get a slice and celebrate.” Shovlin happily exclaimed.

Another part of the celebration included the opening of a time capsule that had been sealed since 1976.

“We’re opening a time capsule from 1976. It’s just like this rare opportunity to look back in time and see what Springfield thought was important 50 years ago.” Shovlin stated.

Among the items within the time capsule included old newspapers, photographs, documentations, a book, and even a sheet music page with the Illinois at the top of it.

The celebration also played a historical slideshow on loop for those wanting to lean about the library’s history.

The Lincoln Library also hosts a program called Civil Civics: Drafting a New America. This has been a yearlong program where you could take part in rewriting the first three articles of the U.S. Constitution. The first 2026 session was held earlier in January, if you missed that session, not to worry, the next session will be Tuesday, February 10 from 6:00 to 7:30pm.

The program will be held at the Lincoln Library located at 326 S 7th St. For questions or to receive further information, you can visit the Library’s Website or by calling the Lincoln Library directly at (217) 753-4900.

Recent Headlines

18 hours ago in Entertainment, Music, Trending

Bad Bunny wins album of the year at the 2026 Grammy Awards, a first for a Spanish-language album

Bad Bunny won album of the year at the 2026 Grammy Awards for his critically-acclaimed "Debí Tirar Más Fotos," closing out a surprising and history-making night. It is the first time a Spanish-language album has taken home the top prize.

18 hours ago in Sports, Trending

Carlos Alcaraz beats Novak Djokovic to become the youngest man to complete a career Grand Slam

Carlos Alcaraz is 22, he's the youngest man ever to win all four of the major titles in tennis, and he had to achieve what no man previously has done to complete the career Grand Slam in Australia.

18 hours ago in National, Trending

Punxsutawney Phil is said to have seen his shadow, forecasting 6 more weeks of wintry weather

Punxsutawney Phil predicted six more weeks of wintry weather Monday, a forecast sure to disappoint many after what's already been a long, cold season across large parts of the United States.

4 days ago in Entertainment

The Westminster dog show is turning 150. Here’s what has — and hasn’t — changed over time

When some Gilded Age gentleman hunters organized a New York event to compare their dogs, could they have imagined that people would someday call it the World Series of dogdom or the Super Bowl of dog shows?

4 days ago in Sports, Trending

Shiffrin, Vonn and other ski racers star in ESPN’s ‘On the Edge’ docuseries leading into Olympics

Before Mikaela Shiffrin, Lindsey Vonn and other World Cup ski racers chase gold at the Milan Cortina Olympics, they will star in a new docuseries that gives a behind-the-scenes glimpse of what it's like on the circuit.