Assassination of President Abraham Lincoln

Abraham Lincoln's assassination in April 1865 plunged Americans into deep mourning. Prints and card photographs helped people to understand the tragic event. This collage has a drawing with photographic bust portraits added. It depicts a room of the Petersen House, where the president died, across the street from Ford's Theatre in Washington, D.C. Not all of these people were actually in the room the morning Lincoln died.

This memorial medal features a profile bust portrait of President Abraham Lincoln. The back depicts a tomb, obelisk and rows of radiating shooting stars with the words "Martyr for Liberty". It was made by Lewis Joy of New York City, in 1865. It provided a tangible memory for the many American citizens who felt a strong bond with the martyred President.

This April 15, 1865 issue of the Grand Rapids Daily Eagle from Michigan reported the developing news surrounding President Abraham Lincoln's death. Published on the date of the President's death, it had the latest news via telegraph dispatches from U.S. Secretary of War, Edwin M. Stanton. The editors made space on the front page for this shocking news, replacing what they had already prepared that day.

Before the existence of newspaper photos and television, prints and card photographs helped people to understand the tragic event of President Lincoln's death in April 1865. This photo shows the four convicted and executed Lincoln assassination conspirators hanging from gallows at the Washington Arsenal on July 7, 1865. It is a later print of Alexander Gardner's original photographic negative made at the scene.

The horse was central to most forms of urban travel in the United States during the 1800s. This substantial fire-resistant brick building lodged many horses needed for carriages, coaches, and firefighting vehicles in Washington, D.C. This stable became infamous during the investigation into President Abraham Lincoln's assassination because confederate spy and conspirator, John H. Surratt, boarded his horses here.

Abraham Lincoln's assassination in April 1865 plunged Americans into deep mourning. Before the existence of newspaper photos and television, lithographs helped people to understand the tragic event. This print depicts a room of the Petersen House, where the president died, across the street from Ford's Theatre in Washington, D.C. Not all of these people were actually in the room the morning Lincoln died.

Before the existence of newspaper photos and television, lithographs helped people to understand the tragic event of President Abraham Lincoln's death in April 1865. This shows the assassin in the act of shooting President Lincoln at Ford's Theatre in Washington, D.C., on April 14, 1865. Printmakers produced various versions of this event, based on verbal reports.

Before the existence of newspaper photos and television, lithographs helped people to understand the tragic event of President Abraham Lincoln's death in April 1865. This shows the assassin escaping after shooting President Lincoln at Ford's Theatre in Washington, D.C., on April 14, 1865. Printmakers produced various versions of this event, based on verbal reports.

Abraham Lincoln's assassination in April 1865 plunged Americans into deep mourning. Before the existence of newspaper photos and television, lithographs helped people to understand the tragic event. This print depicts a room of the Petersen House, where the president died, across the street from Ford's Theatre in Washington, D.C. Not all of these people were actually in the room the morning Lincoln died.