The Lincoln Forum meets annually in November in Gettysburg, PA. But in 2025 the Forum started a new tradition – a spring symposium at Robert Lincoln’s home in Manchester, Vermont he called Hildene. I attended the first meeting and I’m officially on the program as a speaker for the 2026 program running from May 1 to 3, 2026.
Here is the link for more information and to register for the Lincoln Forum Spring Symposium at Hildene: https://www.thelincolnforum.org/
Definitely get your registration in now and get a room in the historic Equinox Hotel, where Mary Lincoln and Robert stayed during the Civil War. The full program schedule will be coming soon on the Forum website, but confirmed speakers include Lois Romano and Jason Emerson discussing Mary Lincoln and Craig Symonds talking about Black emigrants. I will be discussing my new ride-along book, Lincoln in New England: In Search of His Forgotten Tours. There will also be a special panel of presidential descendants, including those of Ulysses S. Grant, Grover Cleveland, and Theodore Roosevelt.
I’ve written a bit about Hildene before. Check out Mary and Robert Go to Manchester, Vermont and Robert Lincoln’s Observatory at Hildene.
The Hildene event will also offer something very special – a behind the scenes look at the Lincoln archives! This is not to be missed, so register now.
I have other events coming up as well, including an interview today that will go online in a few weeks. I’ll also be livestreaming with The Tattooed Historian about “The Tech Savvy Lincoln” on March 17. Check out my Media page for upcoming events.
And don’t forget to register for the Lincoln Group of DC’s February Lincoln birthday celebration featuring Frederick Douglass (brought to you by Nathan Richardson). That event will be held February 10 in downtown DC at International Square. Check here to register.
While you’re at it, register for my own presentation on Lincoln in New England for the Lincoln Group of DC. This one is Zoom Only, so you can participate from anywhere in the country (and indeed, the world)!
Much more news coming soon.
[Photo of Hildene by David J. Kent, 2023]
Coming in March 2026: Lincoln in New England: In Search of His Forgotten Tours
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David J. Kent is Immediate Past President of the Lincoln Group of DC and the author of Lincoln: The Fire of Genius: How Abraham Lincoln’s Commitment to Science and Technology Helped Modernize America and Lincoln: The Man Who Saved America.
His previous books include Tesla: The Wizard of Electricity and Edison: The Inventor of the Modern World and two specialty e-books: Nikola Tesla: Renewable Energy Ahead of Its Time and Abraham Lincoln and Nikola Tesla: Connected by Fate.
