On Sunday, February 13, it will be 150 years to the day that Abraham Lincoln last visited Ohio’s Statehouse on his way to Washington DC to be sworn in as America’s 16th president. After his assassination, his body would lie in state in the rotunda for mourners to view.
On his way to Washington to take that oath, Lincoln stopped in Columbus and spoke to a joint session of the Ohio Legislature in the House Chamber. During this time as he was speaking to then Ohio Governor Dennison when he received a telegram informing him that the election had been certified and that he was officially the President-elect. After he left Columbus by train, there was an attempted assassination in Baltimore. After that failed attempt, Lincoln had to continue his trip in disguise, he began growing his trademark beard and wearing a stovepipe hat.
To honor Lincoln’s association with Ohio, the statehouse will present a special re-enactment of the visit by a nationally renowned Lincoln re-enactor on Sunday, February 13 from 2 to 3:30 p.m. at the Ohio Statehouse. The presentation is free and open to the public; however an RSVP is required at www.OhioStatehouse.org due to limited seating. If you can’t attend Sunday’s event, you can watch a live stream video at: www.ohiochannel.org/.
For more information about Abraham Lincoln and Ohio’s State Capitol >>
