It’s well known that Abraham Lincoln, the 16th president of the United States, could split a log with one fell swoop of an ax.  What might not be as well known is that he sometimes traveled the Mississippi River in a flatboat made from logs just like that.   And this month, volunteers are recreating the trip he took at age 19 in 1828 and again at age 21 in 1831.

Last week, seventh-grade Gifted and Talented and traditional students and teachers alike (first photo, with boat) from Glasgow Middle School took a field trip to the Lincoln Journey of Remembrance flatboat docked at the USS Kidd.  The flatboat, from Rockport, Ind., is re-enacting President Lincoln’s journeys to New Orleans.  He once traveled in a boat like this to deliver produce.  Students, and teachers Alex Dobbyn, Circe Starns, Angela Norse and Jackie Palka, visited the flatboat and its display (second photo).  They also viewed an exhibit and two short films about Lincoln's life at the Foundation for Historical Louisiana and the USS Kidd Museum.  In addition, they toured the Old Governor's Mansion, the Foundation for Historical Louisiana’s headquarters.

This event was organized by the Abraham Lincoln Bicentennial Commission, which celebrates the 200th anniversary of Lincoln's life on Feb. 12, 2009, as well as throughout 2008-2010.   This flatboat trip began September 9.  Another flatboat trip re-enactment took place in 1958 and also stopped in Baton Rouge.  Two of the crew members from the 1958 trip took part in the latest trip, as well.

In addition, student Ben Jahnke created a flatboat replica from balsa wood, and it was featured at a related Foundation and Baton Rouge Area Convention and Visitor’s Bureau reception.  For information, call Melanie Hanley at (225) 205-8048.