Original Emancipation Proclamation goes on display in Nashville
10:32 AM, Dec 10, 2012 |
'First Reading of the Emancipation Proclamation,' by Francis Bicknell Carpenter
Written by
Duane W. Gang
The Tennessean
The Tennessee State Museum is accepting reservations starting today for those wanting to see the original Emancipation Proclamation when it is on display in Nashville in February.
Those wanting to see the document — an executive order issued by President Lincoln
on Jan. 1, 1863 that freed slaves in the Confederacy — can wait in line or pay a small fee and reserve a time in advance.
on Jan. 1, 1863 that freed slaves in the Confederacy — can wait in line or pay a small fee and reserve a time in advance.
The document will be on display for only 72 hours over the course of seven days from Feb. 12 through Feb. 18. Nashville is the only southeast stop for the document as part of the National Archives’ “Discovering the Civil War” exhibition.
Tennessee State Museum Executive Director Lois Riggins-Ezzell said the museum wanted to create a system where viewers could make reservations in advance after visitors at the Henry Ford Museum in Michigan waited up to seven hours to see the Emancipation Proclamation.
Museum in Michigan waited up to seven hours to see the Emancipation Proclamation.
“This way, visitors from Memphis, Chattanooga, or Knoxville can make a reservation before driving all the way to Nashville,” Riggins-Ezzell said in a statement.
Reservations can be made on the hour, quarter hour and half hour, with the last 15 minutes of each hour reserved for walk ins, the museum said. About 300 people will be able to see the document each hour.
“The National Archives are very strict about controlling the amount of light which is shown on the document,” Riggins-Ezzell said in the statement. “We have 72 hours of viewing, no more, so we have to make sure everyone who buys a reservation gets in to see it.”
Those interested can make a reservation through the Tennessee Performing Arts Center, either online, at TPAC’s windows or by calling 615-782-4040. There is no admission fee to see the document, but TPAC will charge a $1handling fee to process the reservation.
fee to process the reservation.
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