A.K. Smiley Public Library

Serving the City of Redlands, California since 1894

Established in 1894, A.K. Smiley Public Library has served generations of patrons in the City of Redlands and beyond. The only “admission fee” is curiosity. Lifelong learning is at the center of activity in the beautiful, historic building and attractive grounds!

Celebrate Lincoln in February

Open House – Saturday, February 3

The Lincoln Shrine Open House is just around the corner! Don’t miss the popular event on Saturday, February 3, 2024, 11am-3pm at the Lincoln Memorial Shrine and Smiley Park in Redlands.

The annual event will once again feature new exhibits, live music, Civil War reenactors, and family activities. The crowd-pleasing 1st Pennsylvania Light Artillery will provide hourly cannon demonstrations, the 7th Michigan Cavalry will discuss the life of cavalrymen during the war, and President Lincoln presenter Robert Broski will be on hand to recite the Gettysburg Address. In addition, the Sons of Union Veterans, Dr. Malarkey, the Camp Carleton Band, and the Inland Empire LEGO User Group, with their ever-growing LEGO Civil War battle scene, will also be on hand.

The event will be preceded by the annual Lincoln Pilgrimage, which will culminate with a program on the steps of the Lincoln Shrine at 10:30am. A Redlands tradition since 1940, the Pilgrimage is hosted by the Gray Arrow District, Boy Scouts of America and is sponsored by Redlands Noon Kiwanis.

The Lincoln Shrine Open House is free and open to the public. For more information, please contact the Heritage Room.

Lincoln Dinner – Monday, February 12

The Watchorn Lincoln Memorial Association welcomes Professor Christopher Oakley of the University of North Carolina at Asheville as keynote speaker of the 92nd Watchorn Lincoln Dinner on Monday, February 12, 2024. Taking place at the University of Redlands’ Orton Center, Professor Oakley’s address will examine his work to uncover the details of Abraham Lincoln’s visit to Gettysburg in November, 1863. Decades in the making, Professor Oakley’s work combined print media and technology.

A life-long aficionado of the 16th president, Professor Oakley has enjoyed a varied career as an animator, director, photographer, and educator. In 2013, his interest in President Lincoln inspired him to launch an undergraduate research endeavor called The Virtual Lincoln Project, which led to the discovery of a previously unknown image of Abraham Lincoln standing in the crowd at Gettysburg.

He has worked as an animator on feature films for Walt Disney Feature Animation, DreamWorks, and Rhythm & Hues. His work includes Dinosaur, Scooby Doo, Men in Black II, and Stuart Little 2.

Attendance to the Lincoln Dinner is $69 for Lincoln Memorial Association contributors who donate or renew in January, 2024, and $79 for the general public. To request a reservation, call (909)798-7632 or email heritage@akspl.org.