Springfield marks 150 years since Lincoln funeral

Wheaton residents Max and Donna Daniels have portrayed Abraham and Mary Todd Lincoln at events for 28 years.

But Max Daniels wouldn't be caught dead in Springfield at the beginning of May, during the 150th commemoration of the 16th president's funeral.

"This is not a time for Lincoln to be anywhere near Springfield," he said. "I can't imagine anyone portraying Lincoln being there that weekend."

That weekend, May 1 to 3, offers visitors to Springfield a trip back in time, and a good reason to revisit the sites tied to Lincoln's life and death.

Lincoln died on April 15, 1865 - the morning after he was shot by John Wilkes Booth. A funeral train carried his body more than 1,600 miles from Washington, D.C., to his final resting place in Springfield.

Re-enactors plan to don period dress for a solemn, historically accurate funeral procession through town, recreating the time following Lincoln's assassination.

Katie Spindell, chair of the 2015 Lincoln Funeral Coalition, says the historical weekend has been in the works for six years, or 150, depending on how you look at it.

"It's never been done before, except for in 1865," Spindell says. And she says the event needs to be as historically precise as possible. "Otherwise it's just a parade," she says. "If we're recreating the funeral, we need to make sure it's accurate."

Spectators and participants will have the chance to see Civil War re-enactments, a replica of Lincoln's tomb and a ceremony at Oak Ridge Cemetery complete with a canon salute on Sunday.

"No one living was there in 1865, so we have the opportunity to perform this as close to historically accurate as possible," Spindell says.

Throughout the weekend, encampments will be set up at Benedictine University and Edwards Place, a mansion President Lincoln often visited. Encampments will be open from dawn to dusk and include daily concerts and the chance to see Civil War artifacts.

Starting at 9 a.m. Saturday, May 2, visitors can view the replica coffin and hearse at the Springfield Amtrak station before it proceeds to the Old State Capitol. Once the procession reaches the Old State Capitol, the site of Lincoln's famous "House Divided" speech, there will be an opening ceremony at 11 a.m., followed by an all-night candle vigil lasting until 6 a.m. Sunday morning.

Those wishing to walk in the procession are required to wear period clothing.

People who choose not to attend the all-night vigil could have the chance to spend the evening with the replica Lincoln Funeral Car built by Elgin resident Dave Kloke.

Kloke and organizers have disagreed about plans, but for now, at $75 a pop, attendees will be served a plated meal and hear from Kloke and his team on what it took to recreate the historic train. The dinner starts at 6 p.m. and those who attend will have the chance to win collectible merchandise and tour the funeral car.

Also on Saturday, the Illinois Symphony Orchestra will perform Earl Robinson's "The Lonesome Train," a musical interpretation of Lincoln's funeral train. The performance will conclude the orchestra's season and include pieces from Honegger, Copland and George Gershwin.

The Lincoln Funeral procession will leave the Old State Capitol Sunday at 11 a.m. and proceed to the Oak Ridge Cemetery, the site of Lincoln's tomb, for a ceremony and canon salute that begins at 3 p.m.

After the ceremony, an exhibit featuring 19th century mourning artifacts will be open at Edwards Place from 4 to 7 p.m.

The events are in addition to the Lincoln history already scattered throughout the capital city. The Abraham Lincoln Presidential Library and Museum will have an deal running that lets people visit May 2 and 3 for the price of a single entry ticket. The Old State Capitol downtown is where Lincoln lied in state following his return to Springfield and where he worked as a state lawmaker before his presidency.

And the only home he ever owned, on 8th Street on the east side of downtown, is a national park with regularly scheduled free tours.

"Whether it's through plays or museum exhibits or re-enactments, we want to remind people that incidents 150 years ago shaped history in ways that can still be felt today," Amy Martin, director of the Illinois Historic Preservation Agency, said.

Lincoln funeral events

Springfield is recalling the 150th anniversary of Abraham Lincoln's funeral in early May. Here are some of the events:

May 1

2 p.m. - The Lincoln Train is Coming with speaker Wayne Wesolowski - Cathedral of Immaculate Conception

6:30 p.m. - Flag retreat in honor of President Abraham Lincoln - Oak Ridge Cemetery

May 2

9 a.m. - Viewing of replica hearse and coffin - Amtrak station

10 a.m. - Procession from Amtrak station to Old State Capitol

11 a.m. - Opening commemorative ceremony - Old State Capitol

All-night vigil will follow opening ceremony

12:30 p.m. - Mr. Lincoln Comes Home Luncheon - Pres. Abraham Lincoln Hotel

1:45 p.m. - Lincoln's Legacy Keynote Speaker - Pres. Abraham Lincoln Hotel

3 p.m. - Lecture/Discussion The Train Journey, Chicago to Springfield - Great Lutheran Church

6 p.m. - An Evening with the Lincoln Funeral Car - Crowne Plaza

7:30 p.m. - The Lincoln Train Concert - University of Illinois - Springfield Brookens Auditorium

May 3

10 a.m.-1 p.m. - Civil War Refreshments - Edwards Place

11 a.m. - Funeral procession from Old State Capitol to Oak Ridge Cemetery

3 p.m. - Funeral ceremony and cannon salute - Oak Ridge Cemetery

4 p.m.-7 p.m. - Sacred to the Memory Exhibit - Edwards Place