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Abraham Lincoln's Visitors Center

Metzger Johnson was the architect. Abraham Lincoln Education/Visitors Center, New Salem, Illinois During his six short years living in New Salem, Lincoln had many successful and unsuccessful experiences. He clerked in a store, split rails, enlisted in the Black Hawk war, served as a postmaster, failed in a business venture, and was elected to the Illinois General Assembly in 1834 and 1836, after a failed attempt in 1832.

Metzger-Johnson, a division of Klingner & Associates, P.C. provided architectural, structural, civil and construction administration services for the Abraham Lincoln visitors center in New Salem, Illinois. Site includes an Historic Village, day use area, campground, hiking trails and support facilities. Much of the site was previously developed including a large parking lot, existing Lincoln statue, concession building and walk entry to the Historic Village. Provisions for future reconstruction of Kelso Hollow Theatre were considered in the site design.

Project included single story low profile building with maintenance free exterior historically compatible with historic village architecture. Contemporary interior spaces with high degree of flexibility.

The Auditorium serves two separate functions. During normal hours it serves as an orientation room where a 20 minute audio/visual presentation is given throughout the day. At other times, the auditorium serves as an intimate theatre for the “Great American People show” and for other verbal and artistic presentations. Multi-level stage provides maximum flexibility. An exposed pipe grid, balcony and control room provides for flexible theatrical lighting and audio/visual equipment. The auditorium was designed as an intimate theatre with no seat more than 35 feet from the stage.