This year the American’s celebrated Abraham Lincoln, their 16th President’s 200th birthday. Lincoln, born February 12, 1809, among the most admired and consequential American leaders and some place him at the top of the list. Lincoln’s Emancipation Proclamation put an end to slavery in the United States and his leadership through the Civil War kept the union intact.

In celebration of Presidents Day, the original Emancipation Proclamation will be displayed in the National Archives East Rotunda Gallery, the admission was free to the public, only for a day.

Lincoln hardly ate breakfast and his wife, Mary Todd Lincoln, forced him to eat lunch, often bringing a tray of food into the president’s office. His favorite food of all time was Chicken Fricassee, which was a simple dish made with sautéed chicken and vegetables.

Abraham Lincoln loved desserts, since his childhood. Anything with fine white sugar sprinkled on top, and cakes and pies laced with molasses or honey found favor on his palate, his wife often baked him Vanilla Almond Cake.