(WBBM NEWSRADIO) — As Chicago hosts the Democratic National Convention, a local bookstore is reflecting on the city’s history of political conventions.
The Abraham Lincoln Book Shop in Chicago’s River West neighborhood specializes in not only Lincoln but also the Civil War and the U.S. presidency. In addition to books, the store also boasts many artifacts.
Daniel Weinberg, the bookstore’s proprietor, has curated a special display highlighting Chicago’s connection to the convention that nominated one of the country’s most influential presidents.
“Since I've had so much material over the years, historical material, I thought it would be fun while the convention is here to have some sort of an exhibit that will show the historical nature of Chicago conventions,” Weinberg said.
In 1860, Lincoln was nominated as the presidential candidate for the Republican Party at a convention held in Chicago, at a convention center built specifically for the convention called the Wigwam.
“We are lucky enough to have two artifacts that were inside the 1860 Wigwam,” he said.
This includes a card that someone used to tally the ballots that nominated Lincoln, and a handout that was thrown onto the convention floor to celebrate Lincoln’s nomination.
These two items are on loan to the store, but make up a small part of the exhibit – which includes a “from-life” oil painting of Lincoln, electoral ballots, 1860 campaign biographies, and displays of other historic Chicago conventions.
These will be on display until the end of August.
Weinberg invites everyone to come and take a look at the collection.
“I'm told that the generation now likes to have the experiences. Well, every one of these artifacts is an experience someone else had. And you're adding on that experience, that story, when you collect that artifact, you're adding their story onto your own life.”
The store, located at 824 W. Superior St., Suite 100, is open from 10 a.m. - 4 p.m. Monday - Saturday.
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