What Happened to the Train Car that Carried Lincoln’s Body?
The Funeral Train
After President Abraham Lincoln was assassinated on April 14, 1865, his body was transported by train from Washington, D.C., to Springfield, Illinois, for burial. The funeral train consisted of nine cars, including a baggage car, a hearse car, and seven passenger cars. The hearse car was specially designed to carry Lincoln’s coffin, and it was draped in black velvet and adorned with gold trim. The other passenger cars were used to transport Lincoln’s family, friends, and dignitaries.
The Train’s Journey
The funeral train departed from Washington, D.C., on April 21, 1865. It traveled through seven states and over 1,600 miles before arriving in Springfield on May 3, 1865. The train made stops in major cities along the way, where Lincoln’s coffin was removed from the hearse car and placed on display in a public building. Thousands of people lined the tracks to watch the train pass by, and many paid their respects to Lincoln by visiting his coffin.
The Train Car’s Fate
After Lincoln’s body was buried in Springfield, the train car that carried his coffin was returned to Washington, D.C. It was then used as a storage car for the United States Army. In 1891, the car was donated to the Smithsonian Institution, where it is now on display in the National Museum of American History.
The Train Car’s Significance
The train car that carried Lincoln’s body is a significant piece of American history. It is a reminder of the tragic loss of one of the nation’s greatest presidents, and it provides a glimpse into the mourning process that followed Lincoln’s assassination.
Additional Information
- The train car that carried Lincoln’s body is known as the “Lincoln Funeral Car.”
- The car is made of wood and metal, and it is painted black.
- The car is 70 feet long and 10 feet wide.
- The car has a capacity of 40 people.
- The car is now on display in the National Museum of American History in Washington, D.C.
