Abraham Lincoln

Mary Surratt Boarding House is Now a Chinese Restaurant

Mary Surratt's boarding house is a Chinese restaurant, still standing just around the corner from Gallery Place Metro. Today, it's Wok and Roll.
The assassination of President Lincoln: at Ford's Theatre, Washington, D.C., April 14th, 1865

Playbill from Ford’s Theatre on the Night of Abraham Lincoln’s Assassination

April 14, 1865 at Ford’s Theater began with a showing of Our American Cousin, and ended with an assassinated President Lincoln. The Library of Congress has the program from that evening. Pretty incredible to think that...

Sketches of Abraham Lincoln’s Assassination

The Library of Congress has a large collection of graphic arts created over the course of two centuries. They depict famous locations and subjects. There are a large number dedicated to capturing the assassination and aftermath...

D.C. Emancipation Act: April 16th, 1862

This week celebrates the 152nd anniversary of the D.C. Emancipation Act, which ended slavery in the District of Columbia and came eight months before President Abraham Lincoln wrote and delivered the Emancipation Proclamation. It ultimately freed...
Lincoln's second inauguration

Extremely Rare 1865 Photo of Lincoln’s Second Inauguration

This photo was taken on March 4th, 1865 on the day Abraham Lincoln was inaugurated for a second time. A little over a month later, President Lincoln would be assassinated in Ford’s Theatre by John Wilkes...

GoDCer Writes About Relative Who Was Bodyguard to President Lincoln

We woke up this morning to a great email from a GoDCer. It’s a rather interesting story, so we’d like to share it with the community. Since today is Abraham Lincoln‘s birthday, I would like to...

Colorized Photo of Lewis Powell, Lincoln Conspirator

Wow, what else can I say about this one. Thanks to the abundance of random stuff on Reddit, I stumbled across this the other day. How amazing is it? This almost looks like it was taken...

The Leg of Ulric Dahlgren

Walking through the Navy Yard a few weeks ago, I stumbled upon an incongruous plaque embedded on the side of a building. The building was a modern parking garage, similar to dozens around the city, and...
Abraham Lincoln delivers his second inaugural address

Lincoln’s Second Inaugural Address, March 4, 1865

Abraham Lincoln was sworn in for his second term as president and delivered his second inaugural address on March 4, 1865. There are a couple interesting things we picked out of this photo. First, when you...

Strange Notices in the Newspaper on the Day of Lincoln’s Death

This is the Evening Star, published the day President Abraham Lincoln was assassinated. Obviously, the main headline focuses on his death and the attempted murder of Secretary William Seward. But this edition of the paper has...
Our American Cousin

Friday, April 14th, 1865: Broadside for Our American Cousin

This is incredible. It’s the actual broadside advertising the play being held at Ford’s Theatre on Friday, April 14th, 1865. This was the play Lincoln and his wife chose to attend. Click the image for great...
Washington, D.C. President Lincoln's funeral procession on Pennsylvania Avenue (April 19th, 1865)

Lincoln’s Funeral Procession Down Pennsylvania Avenue

We dug up this powerful image of Abraham Lincoln’s funeral procession heading down Pennsylvania Avenue on April 19th, 1865. Click on it for better details. Source: Library of Congress
Photograph shows the president's rail car at the Alexandria station. Photograph probably taken in Jan. The car was later used as Lincoln's funeral car.

President’s Railroad Car at Alexandria Station

This is the President’s official railroad car in 1865, likely taken around January. Four months later, the car would be used as Lincoln’s funeral car.
Print shows a large campaign banner for Republican presidential candidate Abraham Lincoln and running mate Hannibal Hamlin. Lincoln's first name is given here as "Abram." The banner consists of a thirty-three star American flag pattern printed on cloth. In one corner, a bust portrait of Lincoln, without beard, encircled by stars, appears on a blue field.

For President, Abram Lincoln. For Vice President, Hannibal Hamlin

Now this is an amazing piece of American history. This is a large campaign banner for Lincoln in 1860. Source: Library of Congress
Political campaign button for 1864 presidential election showing bust portrait of Abraham Lincoln, facing right (possibly Wenderoth & Taylor photo); metal shield with oval window and with pin fastener attached.

Lincoln and the Republican Invincibles

What a sweet campaign button from 1864! We dug this up on the Library of Congress’ site.
Inauguration ball, Monday evening, March 6, 1865. Admit one gentleman and two ladies.

Lincoln’s Inaugural Ball: Admit One Gentleman and Two Ladies

What’s up with this invite? Is Abe trying to tip the balance in the favor of his male advisors? Bizarre … two to one ratio?
Thaddeus Lowe balloon being prepared

Union Army Balloon Corps is Born on the Mall

You may not know this, but Abraham Lincoln was a bit of a technophile. On June 18th, 1861, “Professor” Thaddeus Lowe ascended to a height of 500 feet above the National Mall, in front of where...
Portrait of Abraham Lincoln by Matthew Brady

Abraham Lincoln by Mathew Brady

What an amazing photograph by Mathew Brady.
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