Abraham Lincoln’s funeral train departs for Illinois, April 21st, 1865
One week after the assassination, Lincoln’s body is loaded aboard a special train for his trip home to Illinois. The body of Lincoln’s late son Willie rides in a nearby casket. The trip will recreate Lincoln’s journey to the White House—though in the opposite direction—stopping along the way in 12 cities and passing through 444 communities. Thirty million people will see this train before it comes to a halt in Springfield. Lincoln once confided to Mary that he wanted to be buried someplace quiet, so the president and his son are destined for Oak Ridge Cemetery.