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Lincoln at the Smithsonian Presidential Exhibit
© Abraham Lincoln OnlineEditor's note: the remarks on this page pertain to a permanent exhibit called "The American Presidency: A Glorious Burden," at the National Museum of American History in Washington, D.C.
© Abraham Lincoln OnlineLincoln is well represented among the artifacts in this impressive permanent exhibit. One of the first items you will encounter is the "Lincoln table." If you have seen the picture of Lincoln's second inauguration, you may recognize it. Crafted in 1865 for the occasion, it was assembled from cast-iron scraps from the then-new Capitol dome. Benjamin French, who had the table made, offered it to Lincoln as a memento once he returned to Illinois. When Lincoln was assassinated instead, French sent the table to the Massachusetts Historical Society. Lincoln artifacts appear throughout the exhibit, ranging from a black frock coat to the Spencer repeating rifle President Lincoln used for target practice. One room commemmorates the assassination, with items such as the contents of Lincoln's pockets, a reward poster, conspirator prison hoods, and a drum used in a funeral procession.
© Abraham Lincoln OnlineBe sure to take a look at the plaster life mask and hands made from the original 1860 mold by sculptor Leonard Volk. Sculptor Avard Fairbanks once said, "Virtually every sculptor and artist uses the Volk mask for Lincoln ... it is the most reliable document of the Lincoln face, and far more valuable than photographs, for it is the actual form." Also on hand is the brass inkwell Lincoln used to write the first draft of the Emancipation Proclamation and an 1864 lithograph of the proclamation, signed by Lincoln (from the Gilder-Lehrman Collection on deposit at the Pierpont Morgan Library).
One of oldest and most unusual items is a piece of fence rail acquired at the 1864 Chicago fair for wounded veterans. It was believed to be split by Lincoln around 1830 and was authenticated by his cousin John Hanks.
Visiting Information
The museum is located downtown at 14th Street and Constitution Avenue and before it closed for renovations, the Presidential Exhibit was on the third floor with an adjacent presidential gift shop.
Once the museum reopens, the hours will probably be from 10 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. daily except December 25. The nearest Metro stops are the Smithsonian and Federal Triangle. For more information call 212/357-2700.
Related Link
The American Presidency Exhibit (Smithsonian Institution)
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