Lincoln's Tomb in Oak Ridge Cemetery

The funeral train bearing President Lincoln's coffin also brought the coffin with Willie Lincoln's remains to Springfield. Willie died during the first presidential term at age 11 and his coffin was placed temporarily in the crypt of a family friend in the Georgetown neighborhood of Washington, D.C. Edward, the second Lincoln son, died in Springfield in 1850 at age four.

Lincoln's body was moved multiple times before the final burial in 1901. When Lincoln's coffin first arrived in Springfield, it was stored within the cemetery's receiving vault until December 1865. The vault is at the base of the hill where the massive monument to President Lincoln was constructed beginning in 1868. The funds for the memorial were donated from across America. Tad Lincoln died in 1871 at age 18 and was the first to be interred in the newly built tomb, in a wall vault. His father and two brothers were moved into the tomb later in 1871. The dedication ceremony in 1874 was attended by Lincoln's former general and the current president, Ulysses S. Grant. There was a plot to steal President Lincoln's remains in 1876 on election day. The plan was to demand $200,000 for the return of the body and the release from prison of a colleague. The plot was foiled by a Secret Service agent who was undercover with the would-be robbers. Mary Todd Lincoln was living with her sister in Springfield when she died in 1882; she was interred in a vault in the wall of the tomb.

The federal government donated a number of Civil War cannons that were melted down and cast into the four bronze statues on the exterior, one for each of the four military branches

The tomb was found to have faults in design and construction and was rebuilt from 1900 to 1901; the obelisk was rebuilt 15 feet higher and reaches 117 feet above the sidewalk. After this first renovation. President Lincoln's remains were moved to below the floor of the burial chamber, where they have safely been since. He was interred ten feet below the floor with thousands of pounds of concrete above.

The eldest son, Robert T. Lincoln, was buried in 1926 in Arlington National Cemetery near the nation's capital after a long career in federal government and private enterprise. Changes to the tomb were made again from 1930 to 1931. The interior of the tomb was redesigned to create corridors. Marble and bronze ornamentation and small statues were added. The bronze bust of Lincoln outside the tomb was added during this time as well; the nose is shiny from the tradition of visitors rubbing Lincoln's nose for good luck. One of Robert's children was buried in the tomb but was removed during the 1930 renovations and buried in Arlington Cemetery with his father. 

The tomb's interior is accessible, even for those with disabilities. The exterior upper deck is closed to the public.

Exploring Oak Ridge Cemetery and Lincoln's Tomb - Springfield, Illinois. Grave Explorations. United States. 2017. Videotape program. YouTube video. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=n2ehWdhAi8c

Fitch, Lashonda. Lincoln's Tomb, Oak Ridge Cemetery. January 1st 2016. Accessed October 18th 2020. http://www.oakridgecemetery.org/LincolnTomb.aspx.

Lincoln's Tomb & Oak Ridge Cemetery. Illinois Channel TV. United States. 2005. Filmed television program. YouTube video. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TVXhWgQTjaU.

Lincoln Tomb. Illinois Dept. of Natural Resources. United States. 2018. Filmed tour. YouTube video. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JLE45-7jCUU&feature=emb_logo.