The Harlan-Lincoln House in Mount Pleasant will once again offer two opportunities to explore American history on Presidents Day.
On Monday, February 16, 2026, author and Lincoln artifact collector Ethan Afshani will present “An Eyewitness Account of the Battle of Gettysburg.”
Lynn Ellsworth, board member of the Harlan Lincoln House had this to say about Afshani and the upcoming President’s Day program:
Afshani will also display Gettysburg artifacts, and copies of the book will be available for purchase.
The presentation will be held at the Union Block Building, 111 West Monroe Street in Mount Pleasant, at noon and again at 6:30 p.m. KILJ Radio is sponsoring the event to help defray costs. The presentation is free, and donations will be accepted to support the preservation of the Harlan-Lincoln House.
Looking ahead, the organization has several additional events planned for 2026.
Pat Huesmann, another Harlan Lincoln House Board Member, shared about their upcoming school tours in April:
Additionally, on June 6th, an exhibitor from Hildene in Manchester, Vermont, will visit Mount Pleasant to discuss the connection between the Harlan-Lincoln House and Hildene, the 24-room summer home built in 1905 for Robert Todd Lincoln and Mary Harlan Lincoln.
An Ice Cream Social fundraiser is planned for a Sunday in July on the lawn of the Harlan-Lincoln House. And in October, reenactor Katherine Harris of Springfield, Illinois, will present the story of Elizabeth Keckly, Mary Todd Lincoln’s seamstress, who purchased her freedom after being born into slavery and ended up in the White House.
When asked to provide a brief explanation of the Harlan-Lincoln House and it’s significance, Ellsworth said:
Tours of the Harlan-Lincoln House run March through October on Wednesdays and Saturdays from 2 to 4 p.m., or by appointment. More information is available at harlanlincoln.org.