The Association of Lincoln Presenters (“ALP”) held its 30th annual conference in and around Bardstown, KY, the “Bourbon Capital of the World”, from April 9-12, 2026.  Conference hosts were Larry and Mary Elliott.

On Thursday evening, we were welcomed by Bardstown Mayor Richard Heaton and then we played a Lincoln Trivia Game with 56 questions about Lincoln from his birth to Ford’s Theatre, and six winners received a presidential gold-plated Lincoln dollar.

On Friday, we toured the National Civil War Battles of the Western Theatre Museum (including the Women’s Civil War Museum) and the “My Old Kentucky Home” State Park and mansion, all in Bardstown.  Then we had lunch at the historic Old Talbott Tavern where the Lincoln family had stayed as young Abe witnessed a land dispute trial held across the street at the courthouse, and where the owner John Kelley did a presentation on the history of the tavern, the oldest continuously-operated tavern in Kentucky.  The Mary Lincolns had their annual business meeting and enjoyed a Victorian accessories fashion show (a “show and tell”).

That afternoon we toured the Oscar Getz Whiskey History Museum in Bardstown and then we heard from the Executive Director Jack Rein who gave a presentation based on the question “What If Lincoln Had Lived?”.  In the evening, we returned to “My Old Kentucky Home” for a social hour with the Lincolns attended by over 100 people from the surrounding communities, followed by a catered banquet dinner; we were very pleased that Jim Sayre, one of ALP’s “founding fathers”, was able to attend the dinner even though he is 90 years old and not in the best of health.  The entertainment for the evening was historic portrayals by seven Abraham Lincolns, three Mary Lincolns, one Nancy Lincoln (Abraham’s mother), and one General Ulysses S. Grant.  There were a total of 160 people in attendance, with the Kentucky Home Guard Band playing Civil War music.  The whole evening was thoroughly enjoyed by all.

On Saturday, we toured the Lincoln Birthplace (NPS) in Hodgenville where we also had group photos taken.  Then we toured the Lincoln Museum and heard a presentation by director Iris LaRue about significant women in Lincoln’s life, and had another group photo at the Lincoln statue.  Then we proceeded to view the Austin Gollaher gravesite at Pleasant Grove Cemetery and then went to the Knob Creek Home (NPS) which is a museum about little Abe’s life from ages three to seven.  From there we went to the Kentucky Railway Museum in New Haven and had a catered lunch in the elegant dining car while the train traveled to Boston, KY and back.  Departing the train we got to pose for many photos with our fellows travelers and with people taking the next tour, and then we toured the museum in the train station before returning to our hotel.

On Saturday evening we enjoyed a buffet dinner and held our annual Business Meeting where we conducted the normal business of the organization, including committee reports; an update from Glenn Murray on our 2027 conference to be held in Buffalo, NY; the election of Franklin, TN as the site of our 2028 conference with Whit & Julie McMahan as hosts; and the election of board members and officers.  Kevin Wood and Laura Keyes were re-elected to the Board and Ann Bruehler was also elected, replacing John Voehl who stepped down.  John Cooper stepped down after four years as President but remains on the Board.  We thank John C. for his service as President and John V. for his service as Secretary.  Kevin Wood was elected as President (only our fourth President in 36 years), Laura Keyes and Danny Russel as First and Second Vice President, respectively, and Ann Bruehler as Secretary.  Teena Baldrige received the ALP Excellence Award for her many services to ALP over many years.

We finished the conference on Sunday morning with a message from Pastor Rich Poe in the hotel conference room.  A few attendees stayed over on Sunday afternoon for a tour of three sites in Springfield, KY: the Lincoln Legacy Museum, the Lincoln Homestead State Park (Berry Cabin), and Cornerstone Acres.

Our host hotel was the Fairfield by Marriott Inn & Suites in Bardstown.  During the conference we held a silent auction to help cover conference expenses, set up in the hotel conference room.

Our conference photographer was Marty Justice Photography; to view and/or purchase photos (digital or prints) of the conference, visit https://martyjusticephotography.shootproof.com.

[submitted by Larry & Mary Elliott, Conference Hosts, and Kevin Wood, President]