Photo Gallery, Lincoln: Prelude to the Presidency

Photo Courtesy of Abraham Lincoln Presidential Library & Museum

Photo Courtesy of Abraham Lincoln Presidential Library & Museum

Photo Courtesy of Abraham Lincoln Presidential Library & Museum

Photo Courtesy of Abraham Lincoln Presidential Library & Museum

Photo Courtesy of Abraham Lincoln Presidential Library & Museum

Sun filtering through fall foliage forms a nice backdrop for actors portraying Lincoln and a fellow lawyer. Photo by Ben Kiningham.

Actors on horseback at Funk’s Grove chapel. RSVP volunteers and David Davis Mansion volunteers were extras for the reenactments. Pantagraph photo by Lori Ann Cook.

WILL-TV video cameras shoot the crowd while Joe Woodard, portraying Lincoln, addresses people who volunteered to be extras for the documentary. Pantagraph photo by Lori Ann Cook.

Documentary producer Alison Davis Wood talks to subject matter advisor Guy Fraker, an expert on Lincoln’s year’s on the circuit, during shooting at Funk’s Grove. Pantagraph photo by Lori Ann Cook.

Lincoln, portrayed here by Joe Woodard in reenactment scenes for the documentary, traveled more than 500 miles each spring and fall as a lawyer on Illinois’ Eighth Judicial Circuit. Pantagraph photo by Lori Ann Cook.

Lincoln, portrayed here by Joe Woodard, was a mesmerizing speaker, both on the stump and in the courtroom. In the evenings on the circuit, he would give political speeches. Pantagraph photo by Lori Ann Cook.

Lincoln, portrayed in the photo by Joe Woodard, was tall, gangly and often disheveled, cutting quite a figure as he rode the circuit. Experts say everyone noticed him when he came to town, and before long, everyone knew him, too. Photo by Michael Owen Thomas.

Joe Woodard, as Abraham Lincoln, guides his horse through the prairie at Funk’s Grove. Photo by Michael Owen Thomas.

Reenactments of Lincoln in court were shot at the historic Mt. Pulaski courthouse. Photo by Michael Owen Thomas.

Actor Joe Woodard reading for a scene in WILL-TV’s Lincoln: Prelude to the Presidency. Photo by Dean Williams.

Lincoln reenactor Joe Woodard decked out in suit and hat of the type Lincoln wore on the circuit.

Joseph Woodard portrayed Lincoln in reenactments filmed in central Illinois. Photo by Dean Williams.

Famous drawing by Robert Root of the Lincoln-Douglas Debate in Charleston in 1858. Photo courtesy of Abraham Lincoln Presidential Library & Museum.

Abraham Lincoln’s body lying in state. Photo courtesy of Abraham Lincoln Presidential Library & Museum.

Capitol in Springfield draped for Lincoln’s funeral. Photo courtesy of Abraham Lincoln Presidential Library & Museum.

Springfield capitol draped for Lincoln’s funeral. Photo courtesy of Abraham Lincoln Presidential Library & Museum.

Lincoln’s home in Springfield draped with black after his death. Photo courtesy of Abraham Lincoln Presidential Library & Museum.

A letter from Abraham Lincoln to his partner——William Herndon from July 11, 1948. Photo courtesy of Abraham Lincoln Presidential Library & Museum.

President Abraham Lincoln with officers at Antietam. Photo courtesy of Abraham Lincoln Presidential Library & Museum.

Crowds gather outside the state capitol, which is draped for Lincoln’s funeral. Photo courtesy of Abraham Lincoln Presidential Library & Museum.

Champaign County Courthouse in Urbana at the time Lincoln practiced. Photo courtesy of Champaign County Historical Archives.

Photo Courtesy of Abraham Lincoln Presidential Library & Museum

Photo Courtesy of Abraham Lincoln Presidential Library & Museum

Photo Courtesy of Abraham Lincoln Presidential Library & Museum

Photo Courtesy of Abraham Lincoln Presidential Library & Museum

Photo Courtesy of Abraham Lincoln Presidential Library & Museum

Photo Courtesy of Abraham Lincoln Presidential Library & Museum

Photo Courtesy of Abraham Lincoln Presidential Library & Museum

Photo Courtesy of Abraham Lincoln Presidential Library & Museum

Photo Courtesy of Abraham Lincoln Presidential Library & Museum

Photo Courtesy of Abraham Lincoln Presidential Library& Museum

Photo Courtesy of the Abraham Lincoln Presidential Library & Museum

Photo Courtesy of Abraham Lincoln Presidential Library & Museum

Crew and cast spent long hours on location at Funk’s Grove near Bloomington. Photo by Dean Williams.