Lincoln Heritage Museum and Logan County Genealogical and Historical Society to commemorate Abraham Lincoln’s final journey this Sunday
Program at the museum free and open to the public

[April 08, 2015]  LINCOLN - On April 15, 1865, Abraham Lincoln was assassinated at Ford’s Theatre in Washington, D.C. The next 20 days saw the President’s body travel by train through major cities, small towns and tiny villages, as he made his final journey back to Springfield, Illinois. On Sunday, April 12, 2015, at 2 p.m., a program at the Lincoln Heritage Museum will commemorate the 150th anniversary of that devastating event, the man behind the legend, and Logan County residents’ reactions to the loss of their beloved leader.

The event is free and open to the public. Guests attending are asked to arrive by 1:50 as the program will start promptly at 2 p.m.

Because this is a commemoration of a very sorrowful and solemn time in our history, there will be no open tours of the museum offered during the program. Guests are encouraged to come and to be a part of this carefully planned remembrance of our 16th president.

The program will be hosted by the Logan County Genealogical and Historical Society and Lincoln Heritage Museum. Charles Fricke will deliver a narrative of Lincoln’s life and times, written by local historian Paul Gleason. A presentation of the national and local media’s coverage of the assassination and funeral will be given by Ron Keller, Lincoln Heritage Museum Director.

A dramatic portrayal entitled, “Louisa Hawes’s Story: How Logan County Mourned a President and Friend”, will be given by Lincoln College student, Alexa Maxey, who researched and wrote the material. The final segment, a recount of funeral preparations and travel plans that took President Lincoln home to Springfield, will be presented by Paul Beaver, Lincoln College Professor Emeritus.

At the close of the afternoon program, announcement will be made of the students who received 1st place with their essay on “My favorite Quote by Abraham Lincoln. Why it is my favorite quote and how it relates to today,” in the recent essay contest.

The contest was open to all Logan County students in grades 5, 6, 7 and 8. We thank the students and staff of Zion Lutheran School, Lincoln, for participating.

Students receiving 1st place will be invited to read their essay at the Monday, April 20th meeting of the Logan County Genealogical & Historical Society. The meeting will be held at 6:30 p.m. at the LCGHS Research Center, 114 N Chicago St., Lincoln. The public is invited to attend.

Lincoln Heritage Museum will be open on Sunday prior to the program to allow visitors to view assassination artifacts on display.

[Marla Blair, President, LCGHS]