An exhibit honoring the 200th birthday of Abraham Lincoln is coming to the Old Governor’s Mansion.

The 16-panel exhibit, “Abraham Lincoln: Self Made in America” will focus on the life and times of the 16th president of the United States, and will feature many artifacts including one of Lincoln’s stove-pipe hats and Mary Lincoln’s music box, as well as a copy of the Gettysburg Address.

Mansion Assistant Curator of Education Matthew Davis said the landing the exhibit is a major accomplishment for the area.

“It is a really big deal for the city to get this exhibit,” Davis said. “There was a very competitive application process.”

In order to get the exhibit, mansion officials had to submit recommendations from area schools, governments and community members. Given that Milledgeville was a seat of executive power during the Civil War, former residents of the mansion may not have been so gracious about hosting Lincoln on his birthday, but mansion director Jim Turner welcomes the exhibit.

“I believe that it is a good fit,” Turner said. “This will be a very rare opportunity for the community to see this, and everyone should, particularly school-aged children — people of all ages.”

The exhibit will be on display Dec. 19 through Jan. 16 and at the beginning will coincide with Christmas tours at the mansion. The admission price will cover the tour as well as the Lincoln exhibit, which will be displayed in the mansion’s education building. The Old Governor’s Mansion is part of Georgia College & State University.

Accompanying the exhibit will be an award-winning informational video, “The Civil War in Four Minutes,” that will run continuously during the display. The mansion will supplement the Lincoln exhibit with artifacts of its own from the Civil War era.

“We are expecting large regional appeal,” Davis said. “Closer to the exhibit, we will look at the economic impact.”

Tours are available for $10 for adults, $7 for senior citizens and pre-booked adult groups, $2 for students age 6 to 18. Children under 6 will not be charged. Candlelight tours of the mansion during the Christmas season will be available Dec. 6, 13 and 18, and will give tourists a unique look at the mansion in the evenings. Local performers will provide entertainment in the mansion’s rotunda.

For more information about the Old Governor’s Mansion and the upcoming exhibit, visit www.gcsu.edu/mansion.