On Saturday, May 2, 2015, exactly 150 years after Abraham Lincoln was laid to rest in Springfield, Illinois, his funeral was reenacted. Six years in planning, the monumental historic Abraham Lincoln funeral reenactment included a replica funeral train, replica coffin and replica horse-drawn hearse.
A funeral procession commenced at the very train station to which Lincoln’s body was brought in 1865. It ended on Saturday at the site of the Old Capitol, where Lincoln served early in his political career, before he was elected 16th President of the United States of America.
Following the open ceremonies that included several dignitaries, including Illinois Governor Bruce Rauner, the coffin remained at the ceremony site, guarded, until the next day, which began with an early morning vigil.
The procession continued on Sunday to Oak Ridge Cemetery, where the original entrance has been reconstructed. The funeral service took place at the receiving vault where Lincoln’s body was kept until the current tomb was constructed.
Skip and I were fortunate enough to be witness to Lincoln’s funeral reenactment. We’ve put together this video montage of the event.
Disclosure: My visit to Springfield was hosted by the Springfield Convention & Visitors Bureau. However, all opinions in this article are my own.
What an incredible thing to see – talk about living history! Would have loved this opportunity. Thanks for the video!
Thank you, Sarah.
Coming from Australia this is a part of history that I know very little about. It was great to see how so many got involved in recreating the event, even the little dog. Thank you for linking this interesting event into #TheWeeklyPostcard.
Lyn, I can understand that outside of the U.S. this event may not be relevant. Abraham Lincoln, President of the U.S. during the Civil War between the northern states and southern states in the 1860s, is often noted as the greatest U.S. president ever. He is credited with abolishing slavery in the U.S. and was assassinated a few days after the war ended.
What a great historical moment to witness. I’m from IL originally near St Louis and of course have visited Lincoln’s Home in Springfield. Your video is a great reflection of the ceremonies! I love all the costumes and effort they took in the re-creation! Thanks for sharing!
Thank you, Nancie. I really did feel privileged to witness such a great historical event.