Winter 2023

Dear Friends,

This year marks the 45th anniversary of the Friends of Hildene’s acquiring the Lincoln family estate and opening its doors to the public. Since Sept 18, 1978, Hildene has welcomed over 1.6 million people from all over the world who have come not only to enjoy its sheer beauty, but also to deepen their understanding of cultural heritage, environmental stewardship, and civic engagement throughout the 412-acre campus. We are now embarking on the next great phase of our growth, and we invite you to join us by leaving your legacy at Hildene.

In November of 2022, we broke ground on Lincoln Hall—the largest and most significant capital construction project at Hildene since Robert & Mary Lincoln built their Manchester home in 1905. Our long-awaited, four-season hall will be completed in 18 months. Mark your calendar for the May 2024 ribbon-cutting and stay tuned for the announcement of the Lincoln Hall inaugural season of festivities. To date, we have raised nearly $4.3 million of the estimated $6 million primary construction cost. We are deeply grateful to the hundreds of contributors that have brought us so close to the finish line.

Today, we are inviting you to join our Leave Your Legacy campaign for Lincoln Hall. Your gift of $1,000 (or more) will make a meaningful impact and your name will be inscribed on the donor wall at Lincoln Hall. We are immensely fortunate to have a very generous donor who will match these contributions, dollar-for-dollar (up to $60,000). Now is the perfect time to make your donation, as this matching gift means you will be doubling your impact.

For nearly half a century, our amazing community of donors has funded several milestone achievements. Lincoln Hall will be the capstone. Together, we will continue to be the proud and careful stewards of Hildene and the Lincoln family’s legacy. Consider your legacy. Imagine your children and grandchildren seeing your name on the wall and knowing that you have made a difference.

Sincerely,