Abraham Lincoln is coming home — again.
For the 150th anniversary of his funeral, the solemn event will be re-enacted in Springfield, where he rose to fame and was elected to the presidency. It is expected to attract thousands of Abe’s admirers from around the world, as well as Civil War history buffs and Lincoln scholars.
More Top Picks Best Wool Area Rugs
Recalling the historic arrival of the Lincoln funeral train, a replicated coffin of the 16th U.S. president will be transported from the Amtrak train station on the morning of May 2. A replica of the original hearse will roll to Sixth and Washington streets, where Civil War re-enactors and direct descendants of the original pallbearers will participate in the opening commemorative ceremonies. An all-night candlelight vigil will take place at his casket next to the Old State Capitol, where he lay in state 150 years ago.
The highlight of the re-enactment will start at noon May 3, when a funeral procession will follow the historic 4-mile route to Oak Ridge Cemetery. Civil War era music will be performed, and clergy and Civil War re-enactors will give the eulogy and speeches.
“All parts of the re-enactment will be as historically accurate as possible,” said Katie Spindell, chairwoman of the 2015 Lincoln Funeral Coalition, which has been planning the event for six years.
As many as 5,000 Civil War re-enactors will take part, according to Spindell.
A full calendar of special events, including musical performances and scholarly symposiums, will lead up to the re-enactment. Among them are six performances of “Our American Cousin,” the melodrama comedy attended by Lincoln and his wife when he was assassinated. It will be staged at the Hoogland Center for the Arts (hcfta.org) April 10-12, 17-18 and 19.
Though May 4 is the official date of Lincoln’s burial, the sesquicentennial weekend dates were chosen to avoid weekday business disruption.
For more info, visit lincolnfuneraltrain.org/2015_event.php.