I trust you will pardon the lack of a post commemorating the end of the Lincoln Funeral Train anniversary in 2024. I spent the weekend of May 4-5 in Springfield, Illinois, where I was fortunate to help visitors to that city learn a little more about Mr. Lincoln and the time he and his family spent at their home on the corner of 8th and Jackson streets. Saturday, May 4, was especially poignant. The day not only marked 159 years since President Lincoln’s funeral procession passed his home on its way to Oak Ridge Cemetery; it also brought the opportunity to stand inside the gates of the public receiving vault where the coffins of Mr. Lincoln and his son Willie were interred prior to being placed in the original tomb. It was a sobering moment to be sure and, much like being aboard the Funeral Car, the experience was a reminder of why the project was started in the first place.
May 4, 2024 signaled not an end but a beginning. Preparations are now in full swing for the 2025 Journey into History, when we’ll start in Washington, DC, on April 21, documenting on video interviews with historians and others who will help us mark 160 years since the “Lincoln Special” left the nation’s capital to begin its 1,660-mile journey west toward Illinois. Between April 21 and May 3, 1865, the train passed through seven states, 80 counties, and more than 180 cities and towns. My goal in 2025 is to follow as closely as possible the original route taken by the Funeral Train and to document the entire journey. I am excited for all of it and look forward especially to the people and places that I will interact with along the way.
As we plan for the 2025 Journey into History, if you reside in any of the areas the train passed through, I would love to hear from you about how we might include your location in this remarkable event. Please reach out here on the blog site and be sure to follow us and share our posts on social media. The remainder of 2024 is going to be a whirlwind of activity as interest grows and logistics for next year’s journey are finalized, but I can’t wait to meet and share this experience with as many people as possible.
Stay tuned!