Copper Harbor Lighthouse

Copper Harbor Lighthouse

Monday, June 5, 2017

Land of Lincoln - Lincoln's First Tomb

In the first post in my Land of Lincoln series, I shared the photos I snapped on our recent visit to Abraham Lincoln's Tomb in Springfield, Illinois. You saw the custodian's residence. . .


and the tomb itself. . .


where Abraham Lincoln is buried with his wife and 3 of his 4 sons.

This was not the first resting place of Abraham Lincoln's body, however. The permanent tomb took years to build, and his body was not actually moved into it until 1871 - when it was still under construction.

In the meantime, his body rested in 2 temporary tombs.

The first temporary tomb is located on the Oak Ridge Cemetery grounds - just down around the corner from Lincoln's permanent tomb.

It was still raining, so we stayed in the vehicle to view the first tomb.


The square white sign to the right of this temporary tomb reads:

FIRST RESTING PLACE OF ABRAHAM LINCOLN

Abraham Lincoln was laid to rest here, in Oak Ridge Cemetery's public vault, during services held May 4, 1865. Government officials, members of the military, foreign diplomats, and private citizens gathered to witness the ceremony.

Over the following months visitors in the thousands came to pay their respects. A New Yorker found the "stone doors of the sepulcher were open, and the sentry permitted people in small parties to approach the iron grating and view the coffin within. It was draped in black, and festooned with garlands of flowers and evergreen shrubs. . . . Sadness pressed heavily upon me at the scene."

The president's casket, along with that of his son William, who died at the White House in 1862, remained here until 1865. They then were moved to a newly-built temporary tomb, located about midway up the ridge.

Built in 1864, this receiving tomb, like those found in many American cemeteries, served "those who in their bereavement are not immediately prepared to site a Lot for the final resting place, also those who are awaiting the arrival of friends." Oak Ridge remodeled and enlarged the vault in 1891.

That concludes our visit to the Lincoln Tomb State Historic Site. We'll head over to Abraham Lincoln's Springfield home next.

All is well in the Keweenaw.

18 comments:

  1. Interesting post. We tend to think people were treated better in the past, but this shows getting your act together is never easy.

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    1. Of course, I should have also mentioned that grave robbers tried to steal Lincoln's body AFTER it was placed in the permanent tomb - and almost succeeded! It now rests in a vault 10 feet below the floor.

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  2. Very interesting post. I have been posting a series of pieces about our weekend tour of Mount Vernon, Montpelier, and Monticello and none of the tombs of Washington, Madison or Jefferson are as magnificent as Lincoln's final resting place.

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    1. Hello fellow history geek! You're correct about Abraham Lincoln's tomb, as I've also been to your 3 travel spots. In fact, I must have been reading your Mount Vernon post about the same time you were reading this one! Thanks for stopping by my blog tonight.

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  3. What an interesting post! I would love to visit some day!

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    1. Thank you, Cristina. I hope you are able to visit his tomb and his home in Springfield someday!

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  4. Interesting---thanks for sharing!

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  5. I just love history, so I totally enjoyed this post! Thanks for sharing on Friday Frenzy Link Party! XOXO

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    1. You're so welcome, Kelly. Thanks for stopping by!

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  6. I liked all the photos because it is a great opportunity for me to know more and more about other countries and places :)

    http://artdecorationcrafting.blogspot.gr

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    1. So glad you could make a quick visit to Abraham Lincoln's tombs - all the way from Greece! Check out his home, too!

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  7. What an interesting read! I enjoy visiting the Lincoln memorial in Spencer county, Indiana, it has so many interesting artifacts and stories about his childhood there. Thanks for sharing with us at the Friday Frenzy!

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    1. Yes, the National Park Service has done a great job at that Indiana site. Abraham Lincoln's life is always so interesting.

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  8. Fascinating post Julie! I had no idea there was even a tomb for Lincoln, I thought there was only the memorial in DC! Thanks of linking up to the Friday Frenzy!

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  9. You have really piqued my interest! It would be great to visit one day. Thank you for sharing at Make it Pretty Monday! Happy week to you! Toodles, Kathryn @TheDedicatedHouse

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    1. I hope you do visit one day. There are so many great Lincoln sites in Springfield - a fitting tribute to a great man.

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