The flag that covered Abraham Lincoln's coffin during his funeral train journey in 1865 has been rediscovered at the Museum of Southern History in Florida. This significant artifact was found by Rhonda Hiser, who noted the museum's unfortunate need to auction it to support operations after contamination issues forced them to vacate their building. The flag was preserved in a grimy display case, reflecting its unexpected and historic connection to Lincoln's assassination and the high-profile train journey to Springfield.
As Hiser describes, the train carrying Lincoln's coffin traversed over 400 cities, with the flag symbolically representing the nation grieving the loss of its leader. In cities like New York, the coffin made significant stops where it was ceremonially removed from the train, showcasing the deep public mourning across the nation. The flag's upcoming auction is both a moment of remembrance and necessity for the museum, sifting through a painful but poignant chapter of American history.
Collection
[
|
...
]