Lincoln's Final Moments

"I should be the most presumptuous blockhead upon this footstool if I for one day thought that I should discharge the duties which have come upon me, since I came to this place, without the aid and enlightenment of One who is stronger and wiser than all others." 

-Abraham Lincoln

We slept in a little on this day. We hadn't gone to bed until close to 1:00 in the morning the night before. We got to our house late, grabbed some groceries, then Neil had to run the rental car to the airport and take the metro home. He said riding the metro at midnight was a little sketchy, but all was well. We couldn't sleep in too long because we had tickets to see Ford's Theater.

If you intend to see some of the very significant places in DC, you have to be prepared for two things. Lots of walking and waiting in lots of lines. I probably would keep this trip a little more low key if you're traveling with little children. We were traveling with teenagers who can sometimes be as whiny as toddlers, but you can tell them to, "Buck up, this is a once in a lifetime experience!" and they will generally cooperate. This batch of teenagers had never gone on a vacation quite this rigorous and occasionally put on their grumbling pants just to see if they still fit. I would just remind them that this was my test to see if they could handle the rigors of a trip to Europe, and they would stop their whining pretty quick.

This is the Petersen House. The place where Lincoln actually died. As I gazed upon it while waiting in line, I found it interesting how DC has grown and changed all around this little house. There are events so momentous in nature that the places in which they happen become instantaneously and eternally frozen in time. The two buildings where Lincoln spent his final moments are two such places. Gettysburg is another such place. 

They still do plays in Ford's Theater. Spencer was sad that we didn't get tickets for a play here. This is the box where Lincoln sat that fateful night. It looks now very much like it did then. As we sat in the theater, I tried to imagine the excitement in the air that evening long ago. I tried to feel the energy that must have been in the room as the audience stared into that box at the President who had saved the Union. There must have been a feeling of hope as everyone laughed together at the comedy that was ensuing on the stage. Then I tried to picture the pandemonium that filled the room as John Wilkes Booth jumped from Lincoln's box, exclaiming "Sic temper tyrannis" before fleeing the scene. And the utter despair that must have followed when it was announced that Lincoln had been shot. It is hard to visualize those things, sitting in that quiet theater with your little family 150 years later. 

This is the room where Lincoln died, across the street from the theater, in that little house frozen in time. The room is frozen in time as well. Again, I tried to imagine the hush in this room as a distraught cluster of friends, colleagues, and family members watched the greatest president this country ever had breathe his last breath. On April 15, 1865, Lincoln's friend and Secretary of War Edwin Stanton announced that "Now he belongs to the ages."

He does belong to the ages. 150 years later, we continue to honor this president. This monument of books written about the man reflect how much we honor him. We theorized with the kids later about whether Lincoln would have been as revered today if he had not died that night. It is hard to say. Reconstruction was a difficult thing. We'll never know how Lincoln would have handled that gargantuan task. He had already tackled the herculean task of saving this country. I think he would have been successful at rebuilding it. He is one of my heroes. I own a book or two from that stack and have come to admire the man. 

Sightseeing is draining. We stopped at this French cafe for brunch. It was an overpriced meal that almost filled us up, but the omelettes and waffles were to die for. 

I'll have to fill you in on the last half of this day in another post, because this post is going to be forever long. Tune in next time for more history and some art!