Happy 200th birthday, President Lincoln!

Amid all the excitement surrounding President Obama’s historic inauguration, parallels continue to be drawn between our new president and one of his most legendary predecessors—Abraham Lincoln. It seems especially fitting that 2009 also marks the bicentennial of Lincoln’s birth. In honor of Lincoln’s 200th birthday, the Smithsonian Institution has kicked off a yearlong celebration as a tribute to the 16th president’s enduring legacy.

Throughout 2009, a collaboration of Smithsonian museums, exhibits, events and walking tours will allow visitors to take an in-depth look into Lincoln’s life—from his formative years in Illinois through his Civil War presidency to his tragic assassination. Meanwhile, world-renowned Lincoln scholars will lead discussions and offer new insights into Lincoln-era society, the president’s personal life and his vision for our nation.

The Smithsonian American Art Museum invites visitors inside the pageantry of Lincoln’s second inaugural ball with an exhibition that recreates that festive evening, which took place only weeks before Lincoln’s death. The National Portrait Gallery’s One Life: The Mask of Lincoln tells the story of Lincoln’s life through photographic images. A number of exhibitions at the National Museum of American History and the National Postal Museum will also examine the life and times of Lincoln.

This yearlong celebration should prove particularly inspiring for school groups traveling to Washington, D.C., in 2009. To find out more about how to incorporate the Smithsonian’s Lincoln-related online resources, exhibitions and events into your trip, visit gosmithsonian.com/lincoln.