This is your unofficial guide to the concerts, presentations, lectures, dinners and other events surrounding the 2015 Lincoln Funeral Reenactment. Please note that parking downtown will be restricted, and no parking will be allowed in Oak Ridge Cemetary or along the funeral route.
Lincoln’s Assassination and the Public’s Response
April 30, 7pm Thurs. Scholarly symposium where Dr. Michael Burlingame, Dr. Martha Hodes and Dr. Louis Masur explore the public’s view of Lincoln’s life and death. Reception, book signing to follow. See article p16. Free to public. UIS Brookens Auditorium, One University Plaza, 206-6073.
Remembering Lincoln Exhibition
Through May 10, 8:30am-5pm Mon-Sat, 12-5. Exhibition featuring rarely seen objects honoring the memory of our 16th president. Free to public. museum.state.il.us. Illinois State Museum, 502 S. Spring St., 782-7386.
Civil War Military Encampment
May 1-3, dawn until dusk. Fri-Sun. Infantry, artillery, mixed military and civilian camps illustrate 1860s life. Lincolnfuneralcoalition.org. Lincoln Park, 1501 N. Fifth St
Civil War Encampment
May 1-3, dawn until dusk, Fri-Sun. 10th Illinois Volunteer Cavalry (Reactivated) on south lawn. Free to public. lincolnfuneraltrain.org. Springfield Art Association, 700 N. Fourth St., 523-2631.
Civil War Encampment
May 1-3, dawn until dusk, Fri-Sun. Band concerts in various locations, Civil War artifact museum and more. Free to public. lincolnfuneraltrain.org. Benedictine University at Springfield, 1500 N. Fifth St., 525-1420.
Sacred to the Memory: 19th Century Mourning Artifacts
May 1, 9am-5pm. Artifacts and rituals associated with mourning in 19th century America, featuring rarely seen items from the collection of Timothy Krause. Free to public. Springfield Art Association, 700 N. Fourth St., 523-2631.
In Lincoln’s Time
May 1 – June 18, 12-7pm Tue-Sat. Gallery exhibit by Prairie Art Alliance juried artists. Multimedia artistic interpretations of events, ideas and experiences from Lincoln’s time. prairieart.org. Prairie Art Alliance Gallery, Hoogland Center for the Arts, 420 S. Sixth St., 544-2787.
The Lincoln Train is Coming
May 1, 2pm. A talk on the incredible journey of the Lincoln Funeral Train featuring photographs, artifacts, first-person accounts and legends. Presented by Dr. Wayne Wesolowski. Seating limit: 150. lincolnfuneraltrain.org. Cathedral of the Immaculate Conception, 815 S. Sixth St., 522-3342.
Behind the Seams: Civil War Era Women’s Clothing Presentation
May 1, 3:30pm. Discussion by Terre Lawson on women’s dresses of the 1860s. Free to public. Brinkerhoff Mansion, Benedictine University, 1500 N. Fifth St., 525-1420.
Wreath-laying Ceremony
May 1, 6-6:20pm. Hosted by Lincoln Monument Association prior to 114th Flag Lowering Ceremony. 816-1900. Lincoln’s Tomb, 1500 Monument Ave., Springfield, 782-2717.
Flag Retreat Ceremony
May 1, 6:30pm. Presentation by the 114th Regiment Illinois Volunteer Infantry (Reactivated) of American flag to a cemetery visitor in honor of President Lincoln. Free to public. lincolnfuneraltrain.org. Oak Ridge Cemetery, 1441 Monument Ave., 789-2340.
5th Michigan Regiment Band
May 1, 6:30pm. Re-creation of the 5th Michigan Infantry Band, founded in 1973. Free to public. Benedictine University Amphitheater, 1500 N. Fifth St., 525-1420.
Lincoln through the Arts
May 1, 7pm. Performances by national award-winning artists and poets that celebrate the life of Abraham Lincoln. Visual arts and music to accompany performances. $15. hcfta.org. Hoogland Center for the Arts, 420 S. Sixth St., 523-2787.
Open house for Lincoln Funeral
May 2, 9am-12pm. Costumed greeters, organ music, mourning decor, the Abraham Lincoln/Reverend Francis Springer connection. Free to public. trinity-lutheran.com. Trinity Lutheran Church, 220 S. Second St., 522-8151.
Viewing of Replica Coffin and Hearse
May 2, 9am. Part of the Lincoln Funeral Reenactment. Free to public. lincolnfuneraltrain.org. Amtrak Station, 100 N. Third St., 872-7245.
Procession from train station to Old State Capitol
May 2, 10am-4pm. Procession includes the recreation of the original Lincoln hearse, horse-drawn carriages, military and civilian Civil War reenactors, plus other period groups. A Lincoln Funeral Commemoration Event. Free to public. lincolnfuneraltrain.org. Amtrak Station, 100 N. Third St., 872-7245.
Opening Commemorative Ceremony
May 2, 11am. Conducted by dignitaries, color guard and Civil War reenactors. Seating available on a first-come, first-served basis. lincolnfuneraltrain.org. Near Old State Capitol at Washington and Sixth Streets.
All Night Vigil May 2-3, 12pm-6am Sat-Sun. All night vigil featuring hearse and coffin to begin following opening ceremony. A Lincoln Funeral Commemoration event. Near Old State Capitol at Washington and Sixth streets.
Historic Home Tour
May 2, 1-4pm. Self-guided tour of half a dozen mid-to-late-1800s homes in the Enos Park neighborhood. Purchase tickets day of tour at Springfield Art Association. $10. Questions, president@epnia.com. Springfield Art Association, 700 N. Fourth St., 523-2631.
Lincoln Among Us
May 2, 1:45pm. Honoring Lincoln Symposia Series. Speaker Dr. Edna Greene Medford. lincolnfuneraltrain.org. President Abraham Lincoln Hotel & Conference Center, 701 E. Adams, 544-8800.
Springfield Municipal Band Concert
May 2, 2pm. Directed by Tom Philbrick. Free to public. Benedictine University, 1500 N. Fifth St., 525-1420.
Fond of Hardware: 19th Century Jewelry, Materials and Motifs Presentation
May 2, 2pm. Kristen Mrozek on symbols and elements of jewelry that adorned women during the Civil War era. Free to public. Brinkerhoff Mansion, Benedictine University, 1500 N. Fifth St., 525-1420.
Straw Bonnets for Every Woman Presentation
May 2, 2:35pm. Learn about the history, design and construction of straw bonnets in America, 1859-1865. Free to public. Angela Hall, Benedictine University, 1500 N. Fifth St., 525-1420.
10th Illinois Volunteer Cavalry Regiment Band Concert
May 2, 3pm. Special concert featuring “Lincoln’s Funeral March” by Charles Hess, plus talk by Archivist and Director of the Sousa Archives and Center for American Music, Scott Schwartz. Free to public. Benedictine University Amphitheater, 1500 N. Fifth St., 525-1420.
Train Journey
May 2, 3pm. Prairie Humanities Lecture and discussion featuring speaker Guy C. Fraker on “The Train Journey, Chicago to Springfield.” Historic Grace Lutheran Church, 714 East Capitol Ave., 522-3965.
Foundation of Fashion: All the ‘Unders Presentation
May 2, 3:10pm. Learn how clothing of the 1860s was shaped and supported through undergarments. Free to public. Angela Hall, Benedictine University, 1500 N. Fifth St., 525-1420.
How the Wash was Won: Laundry Day in the 1860s
May 2, 3:40pm. Casey Lauger discusses a typical laundry day for the 1860s average American family. Free to public. Angela Hall, Benedictine University, 1500 N. Fifth St., 525-1420.
Sacred to the Memory Exhibit Opening
May 2, 4-7pm. Exhibit features 19th century mourning artifacts. Runs through May 30.
Free to public. Edwards Place, Springfield Art Association, 700 N. Fourth St., 523-2631.
An Evening with the Lincoln Funeral Car
May 2, 6pm. Tour funeral car and meet Dave Kloke, builder of the 2015 Lincoln Funeral Train. Plated dinner hosted by Historic Railroad Equipment Association. $75 per ticket, $650 per table. Reservations online, thosetrainpeople.com. Crowne Plaza Hotel, 3000 S. Dirksen Pkwy., 529-7777.
33rd Illinois Volunteer Regiment Band Concert
May 2, 6:30pm. Re-creation of the Civil War Era band mustered at State Normal University in 1961. Free to public. Benedictine University Amphitheater, 1500 N. Fifth St., 525-1420.
The Lincoln Train – Illinois Symphony Orchestra
May 2, 7:30pm. Musical illustration of Lincoln’s funeral train by Earl Robinson. Part of 2015 Funeral Coalition reenactment celebration. See article p22. SangamonAuditorium.org. Sangamon Auditorium, UIS, 1 University Plaza, 206-6160.
Civil War Refreshments
May 3, 10am-1pm. Enjoy Civil War-style refreshments on the lawn. Proceeds support Edwards Place restoration fund. A Lincoln Funeral Commemoration event. $10 admission. Edwards Place, Springfield Art Association, 700 N. Fourth St., 523-2631.
Procession to Oak Ridge Cemetery
May 3, 12pm. Procession leaves from Sixth and Washington, follows much of historic route to Oak Ridge Cemetery. A Lincoln Funeral Commemoration event. No reserved seating, no parking available inside cemetery. Free to public. Old State Capitol, 1 Old State Capitol Plaza, 785-9363.
Music by the Prairie Aires
May 3, 1pm. Music by the Prairie Aires, a group of local women performing on guitars and dulcimers. Free to public. Edwards Place, Springfield Art Association, 700 N. Fourth St., 523-2631.
Oak Ridge Cemetery Ceremony and Cannon Salute
May 3, 3-4:30pm. Clergy members, Civil War reenactors present the eulogy, speeches, salutes at Old Public Receiving Vault. Music by special choir and Civil war era-style musicians perform music from original ceremony. Ceremony concludes at 4:30pm with 36 cannon salute. No parking, no reserved seating. Free to public. Oak Ridge Cemetery, 1441 Monument Ave., 789-2340.
This article appears in Apr 30 – May 6, 2015.
