Lincoln’s Assassination

On April 14, 1865, as the Civil War drew to a close, Lincoln and his wife went to see a play at Ford’s Theater in Washington, D.C. During the play John Wilkes Booth, an actor who favored the South in the war, came up behind Lincoln and shot him in the back of the head. Lincoln was carried to a house across the street from the theater, and he died the next morning.

Lincoln’s body was brought back to Springfield by train. The train stopped in several cities, including New York and Chicago, so many citizens could pay their respects. His body arrived in Springfield on May 3, 1865, and was placed in the House of Representatives chamber of the Old State Capitol. During the next 24 hours 75,000 people came to mourn their fallen president. Lincoln’s body was taken to Oak Ridge Cemetery the next day.

If you enter Oak Ridge Cemetery from the south, you will have little trouble locating Lincoln’s tomb. The light gray granite monument lies straight ahead and rises more than 100 feet from the ground.

Two Temporary Burials

Obviously, the large current monument was not ready when Lincoln’s body arrived in Springfield. He was first buried at the bottom of the hill just north of where the current tomb stands. You can still see the original burial place.

Later that year the body was moved to another temporary burial place to await building of the tomb. In 1871, Lincoln’s body was moved into the unfinished tomb. Upon the tomb’s completion in 1874, the body was placed in a large marble sarcophagus in the middle of the burial chamber.

In 1876, thieves tried to steal Lincoln’s body to hold it for ransom. The thieves were caught and sent to jail.

Lincoln’s body was moved at least two other times within the tomb until it was placed in its current safe location in 1901. You will see a large marker in the burial chamber with “Abraham Lincoln, 1809-1865” written on it. Lincoln’s concrete and steel vault lies just behind the marker and ten feet below the floor.

Mary Todd Lincoln and all of their children except Robert also are buried in the tomb. Robert, who held high positions in government and business, is buried in Arlington National Cemetery near Washington, D.C.

Statues in and around the Tomb

Several statues in the tomb depict different times in Lincoln’s life. You probably recognize at least one of the statues. It is a small copy of the huge statue of a seated Lincoln at the Lincoln Memorial in Washington, D.C.

You will want to take a careful look at the four statues on the corners of the outside of the monument. Each depicts one of the fighting groups in the Civil War. They represent the Infantry, the Cavalry, the Artillery and the Navy.

In front of the tomb is a large bronze head of Lincoln on a granite pedestal. You will note that his nose is shiny. It has been polished by the hands of thousands of visitors who rub it for good luck.

As you visit the tomb, please remember that Oak Ridge is a cemetery, and you should show respect for the grounds and those who are buried there.

Return to Lincoln's Tomb Main Page