Lincoln Everywhere We Go

We started our unstructured DC trip late in the day on Monday April 14th at the Lincoln Memorial. It was of course what we had come to DC to see therefore the perfect starting point. Mr. Lincoln, the 16th president of the United States, and the first to be assassinated, sat before us tall and grand with a contemplative gaze. It was impressive, yes, but I was more impressed that I was at a historic landmark used for very important socially significant events such as Martin Luther King’s “I have a Dream” speech in 1963.

In our meandering around town, we came upon the Ford’s Theatre where Lincoln was shot and across the street, the Petersen House where he died. What was eerie that gray evening as we stood there was that it was 149 years to the day that Lincoln was shot. Yes, the placard had to tell us that, though I wonder if that is a day most Americans remember. I would guess not. We stood there trying to imagine the scene at that time (around 7pm) 149 years prior, and the 12 to 24 hours that would have followed. That did indeed bring the magnificence of the Lincoln Memorial to light for me.

Ford’s Theatre

The following day, yesterday, April 15th was cold and rainy. We tried to get tickets for entry into the Ford Theatre Museum and the Petersen House but were out of luck. We did however gain admission to the Ford Theatre itself and sat across from the balcony that Mr. Lincoln sat in that fateful day, while a park ranger re-told the story of his death. Very humbling. 

Balcony in Ford’s Theatre where Abraham Lincoln sat the night he was assassinated

Petersen House across from the Ford’s Theatre

We also made  it over to the Smithsonian National Museum of American History where one of Lincoln’s iconic top hats was on display.

The hat Lincoln wore when he was assassinated

Back in Philadelphia today, we went to the Mutter Museum and won’t you know it? There on display was the “Thorax of John Wilkes Booth”, Lincoln’s assassin.

I must admit that I’m still at a lose to eloquently explain why Abraham Lincoln is so revered (and possibly so hated) in America’s conscience, but I have gained a better appreciation of the man myself.