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Piano Played At Abe Lincoln's Wedding To Be Restored

www.edwardsplace.org

One of the nation's most historical instruments is getting back in working order.Edwards Place is the oldest surviving home in Springfield, and it belonged to a family related to Mary Todd Lincoln. Abraham Lincoln himself spent time there courting Mary and socializing. Kickstarter was used to raise money to restore the couch that Abe and Mary sat on while getting to know each other.

Once again, Edwards Place wants to restore a piece in its collection and needs public support to do so. The piano is one of only two surviving instruments that Lincoln is known to have listened to. According to the curator of collections for Edwards Place, Erika Holst - the piano reportedly played at the Lincoln wedding, which occurred in the home.
 
Money is being raised through KickStarteragain to help raise money for the project, which will take six months overall and cost $17,000. A piano concertwith the restored piece is scheduled for Feburary 6th and will be recorded.  As Holst puts it, "You can own a CD of Lincoln's favorite music played on the piano he used to listen to." Proceeds from that will go toward restoringthe second floor of the home. The first floor was restored earlier this year to look as it did in the mid-1800s. 
 
Listen to the interview about the piano and other restoration taking place at Edwards Place, here: 
 

Rachel Otwell of the Illinois Times is a former NPR Illinois reporter.
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