On Wednesday, May 27, 2009, the Rosenbacchanal celebrated Abraham Lincoln’s 200th birthday with an opening of the exhibition, Finding Lincoln, and our interactive website, 21st-Century Abe. The project, representative of the museum’s innovative approach to programming was designed to create public access to historic materials and encourage visitors to develop their own interpretations of them by engaging audiences to interact with the Rosenbach Museum & Library’s collection of rare and important Lincoln materials.

The evening began with an intimate reception at the Rosenbach filled with fine foods and cocktails, a brief live auction of carefully selected treasures and experiences, and music by jazz pianist and Steinway Artist Dave Burrell. The guests later moved to the neighborhood homes of for desert, coffee, and a one of a kind performance by 1812 Productions.

For over twenty years, the Rosenbacchanal has provided a crucial source of funding for the programs and operations of the Rosenbach Museum & Library. The 2009 Rosenbacchanal was chaired by Alan R. and Nancy J. Hirsig and Albert E. and Joan M. Piscopo, and supported by a dedicated committee of eleven volunteers.