Changes could be coming to this prominent downtown Peoria mural

The 50-foot-tall mural of President Abraham Lincoln that graces the side of the Peoria County Courthouse in downtown Peoria may be replaced.

But fans of Lincoln — and, more specifically, the mural titled "Abraham Blue" — need not fear, however. The proposed replacement would introduce a newer, more technologically advanced version of "Abraham Blue" to downtown Peoria.

Lincoln's watchful gaze has been overlooking the courtyard behind the Peoria County Courthouse since 2018, a spot where Lincoln once gave a speech on the ills of slavery in 1854. The blue-tinted mural is named "Abraham Blue" to shed light on the fact that Lincoln suffered from bouts of severe depression during his lifetime.

Artist Doug Leunig created the "Abraham Blue" piece.

"As a man, Lincoln also suffered greatly from depression. He was once called himself the most miserable man in the world," Big Picture Peoria says of the piece on its website. "Abraham Blue is a dark and brooding image created by the Leunigs to raise awareness about depression and mental health issues. The likeness of Lincoln was taken from a five-dollar bill."

Over the last five years however, sunlight has faded the mural, and Big Picture Peoria, a local arts organization founded by Leunig and his wife, Eileen, feels it is time to put a new version of "Abraham Blue" on the courthouse. The mural would be similar, save for one major twist.

The new mural would be designed with an augmented reality feature. A passerby would be able to scan the mural with their phone and, upon doing so, would be inundated with historical information on Lincoln, his visits to Peoria and the former president's battle with mental-health issues.

On Thursday, the Peoria Planning and Zoning Commission unanimously approved the plan to bring the new augmented reality mural to downtown Peoria.

Approval of the new mural will go to the Peoria City Council on Oct. 10. The mural requires approval because it exceeds the maximum allowed height of 30 feet.

Money for the mural was raised through private donations.

"The county has been very fortunate to have 'Abraham Blue' on the courthouse the last five years," County Administrator Scott Sorrel said. "We're excited and looking forward to its refresh."

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This article originally appeared on Journal Star: Changes could be coming to Lincoln mural in downtown Peoria