CHICAGO -- Opening the Abraham Lincoln library and museum in Springfield, Ill., President George W. Bush said Tuesday that its mix of showmanship and scholarship should help generations rediscover the 16th president, whose commitment to freedom for all embodies "the meaning and promise of America."

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"From the lunch counter to the schoolhouse door to the Army barracks, President Lincoln has continued to hold this nation to its promises," Bush told an audience of thousands -- including scores of Lincoln impersonators and children in stovepipe hats -- gathered on a hot day before the low-slung complex of wheat-colored stone. "And we will never relent, we will never rest until those promises are met."

The dedication of the museum portion of the state-of-the-art showplace capped 25 years of effort. The $145 million Abraham Lincoln Presidential Library and Museum, with 40,000 square feet of understated architecture, is designed to generate new interest in Lincoln and explain his life and legacy. The library portion opened last October.

"At times, when you sat down and figured out what had to be done, and how many people were required to do it, you threw up your hands in despair and said, 'This will never happen,'" said Illinois State Historian Tom Schwartz. "But it did."

The museum was 16 years in the making, a common project of three Illinois governors, which crossed party lines.

"Only Lincoln can bring people of such diverse philosophies together and agree," said former Gov. Jim Edgar.

Historian Ronald Riegveld made Lincoln his life's work when he was 14 years old, NBC5's Phil Rogers reported. He was especially aware of the treasures of the 16th president, locked away for years and some now being displayed publicly for the first time.

"I think we can get a better feel for Lincoln's humanity when you look at the items themselves," he said.

The new library, touted as the largest of its kind in the country, also offers details of the controversies surrounding Lincoln's policies. The museum presents his changing views on slavery, restrictions on free speech and the limitations of his Emancipation Proclamation.

Bush, however, steered mostly clear of such topics, portraying criticism of Lincoln as mostly a media creation -- something he joked that he has some knowledge of.

"In a small way, I can relate to the rail splitter from out West, because he has a way of speaking that was not always appreciated by the newspapers back East," Bush said with a chuckle.

Sen. Barack Obama, the Illinois Democrat who is the Senate's only black member, touched gingerly on the questions about Lincoln.

"Lincoln was not a perfect man, nor a perfect president," Obama said. "By modern standards, his condemnation of slavery might be considered tentative, his Emancipation Proclamation more a military document than a clarion call for justice. He wasn't immune to political considerations. His temperament could be indecisive and morose."

Bush focused on praising Lincoln for the war he fought to free slaves and keep the union together -- and the impact his assassination had on the country.

"When his life was taken, Abraham Lincoln assumed a greater role in the story of America than man or president," he said. "Every generation has looked up to him as the Great Emancipator, the hero of unity and martyr of freedom."

He added: "To understand the life and the sacrifice of Abraham Lincoln is to understand the meaning and promise of America."

The facility combines artifacts and artistry to bring the president's story to life. Notable pieces of presidential memorabilia include Abraham Lincoln's presidential briefcase and a copy of the Gettysburg Address in Lincoln's own hand.

The facility is garnering a lot of attention over its interactive exhibits, which use a new technology called "Holavision" to display ghostly images that interact with live actors.

A library representative said Holavision is a patented, secret process that allows for the formation of images in the air where there is no image-forming screen or surface.

The Holavision exhibit "Ghosts of the Library" puts Lincoln right in the room.

A company called BRC Imagination Arts was commissioned to develop the museum. Bob Rogers, a spokesman for the company, said the interactive exhibit will grab the attention of even the most jaded video game addict.

"What we've done is we've asked the taboo question ... 'Why do I have to study history? So what? Who cares? Why is any of this important? Isn't this just a lot of dull, useless stuff you have to memorize for school?'" Rogers asked. "And we have an answer. History is deeply important, and in this presentation, we explain why."

However, some fear the museum is more about amusement than education, using gimmickry and special effects to bring Lincoln to life.

The facility also silicone-latex figures to tell the 16th president's story.

An exhibit called "The Journey" puts visitors directly into scenes from Lincoln's life. And NBC5's Phil Rogers reported that interactive theaters leave visitors wondering if they have met Lincoln face-to-face.

"It's very interesting. I like the way it was presented, and I was very impressed that my son stood and read so much, said Dannette Dodson, who toured the museum. "He's never really stood and read that much, and when he did that, it very much impressed me."

But everything in the museum isn't fun and games. One scene depicts a heartbreaking moment when a family is torn apart by slavery.

"This library will be judged, fairly or not, by how well you deal with the issue of slavery and race, more generally. Because it's what makes Lincoln contemporary," said Richard Norton Smith, the library director.

Unlike most presidential libraries, this one isn't operated by the National Archives and it isn't the official repository of documents from Lincoln's presidency. The state of Illinois runs the library and museum, and the federal government has agreed to provide up to $50 million.

The four-day celebration to honor the opening of the library's museum culminated Tuesday.

"It's been about 140 years in the making," said Illinois Department of Tourism spokeswoman Jan Kostner.

Springfield officials worked hard to make their town visitor-friendly for the thousands of tourists gathering for the opening.

To help eliminate confusion, city crews installed signs Friday at the Lincoln Library to clarify that it is the city's public library, not the new presidential library.

The Springfield Convention and Visitors Bureau trained 500 volunteers to answer tourists' questions.

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