History enthusiasts, railroad fans, and anyone interested in Abraham Lincoln's legacy are invited to a special free presentation exploring the vital role railroads played during the Civil War and the remarkable journey of Lincoln's Funeral Train. Hosted by the Inland Empire Civil War Round Table, the event takes place Sunday, July 19, at 2 p.m. at the A.K. Smiley Library, 125 W. Vine Street in Redlands.
Featured speaker Bruce Hendrick, president of the Corona Model Railroad Society, has spent years researching one of America's most historic rail journeys. During his presentation, he will showcase his in-progress HO scale model of the complete Lincoln Funeral Train, a detailed recreation of the locomotive and the many railcars that carried President Abraham Lincoln's remains across the nation in 1865. His program also features more than 200 historic photographs documenting the train, its route, and the millions of Americans who gathered along the tracks to pay their respects.
The presentation will also examine how railroads transformed military transportation during the Civil War, allowing troops, supplies, and communications to move faster than ever before. Following Lincoln's assassination on April 14, 1865, the nation's expanding railroad network made it possible for his funeral procession to travel approximately 1,650 miles from Washington, D.C., to Springfield, Illinois, giving an estimated 1.5 million mourners the opportunity to view the funeral train or participate in memorial ceremonies along its route.
The event is free and open to the public and is especially fitting for its location. The A.K. Smiley Library sits adjacent to Redlands' historic Lincoln Memorial Shrine, one of the largest museums and research centers dedicated to Abraham Lincoln west of the Mississippi River, making the venue an ideal setting for a program celebrating Lincoln's enduring legacy.
For additional information about the program or the Inland Empire Civil War Round Table, visit inlandempirecwrt.org