Abraham Lincoln presenters will gather this weekend in the Illinois city where the 16th president began to establish his reputation. Vandalia will host the 2015 Abraham Lincoln Presenters Convention that begins later this week. Vandalia was Illinois' second state capital, from 1820 to 1836. Its capitol building will host several convention activities. Public events include a Lincoln Forum Saturday at the capitol followed by a picnic lunch on the lawn and a downtown Lincoln Parade. Other events include Vandalia's "Looking for Lincoln" exhibits, which feature highlights from the early years of Lincoln's political career, including where he made his first anti-slavery comments. Despite his deep roots there, Lincoln is not a beloved Vandalia figure. He helped move the state capital to Springfield in 1837.
