The remains of Abraham Lincoln rest beneath a magnificent monument in
Oak Ridge Cemetery, Springfield, Ill. Before they were deposited in
their final resting place they were moved many times.
On May 4, 1865, all that was mortal of Abraham Lincoln was deposited
in the receiving vault at the cemetery, until a tomb could be built. In
1876 thieves made an unsuccessful attempt to steal the remains. From
the tomb the body of the martyred President was removed later to the
monument.
A flight of iron steps, commencing about fifty yards east of the vault,
ascends in a curved line to the monument, an elevation of more than
fifty feet.
Excavation for this monument commenced September 9, 1869. It is built
of granite, from quarries at Biddeford, Maine. The rough ashlers were
shipped to Quincy, Massachusetts, where they were dressed and numbered,
thence shipped to Springfield. It is 721 feet from east to west, 119
1/2 feet from north to south, and 100 feet high. The total cost is about
$230,000 to May 1, 1885. All the statuary is orange-colored bronze. The
whole monument was designed by Larkin G. Mead; the statuary was modeled
in plaster by him in Florence, Italy, and cast by the Ames Manufacturing
Company, of Chicopee, Massachusetts. A statue of Lincoln and Coat of
Arms were first placed on the monument; the statue was unveiled and the
monument dedicated October 15, 1874. Infantry and Naval Groups were put
on in September, 1877, an Artillery Group, April 13, 1882, and a Cavalry
Group, March 13, 1883.
The principal front of the monument is on the south side, the statue of
Lincoln being on that side of the obelisk, over Memorial Hall. On the
east side are three tablets, upon which are the letters U. S. A. To the
right of that, and beginning with Virginia, we find the abbreviations of
the original thirteen States. Next comes Vermont, the first state
admitted after the Union was perfected, the States following in the
order they were admitted, ending with Nebraska on the east, thus forming
the cordon of thirty-seven States composing the United States of America
when the monument was erected. The new States admitted since the
monument was built have been added.
The statue of Lincoln is just above the Coat of Arms of the United
States. The grand climax is indicated by President Lincoln, with his
left hand holding out as a golden scepter the emancipation Proclamation,
while in his right he holds the pen with which he has just written it.
The right hand is resting on another badge of authority, the American
flag, thrown over the fasces. At the foot of the fasces lies a wreath of
laurel, with which to crown the President as the victor over slavery and
rebellion.
On March 10, 1900, President Lincoln’s body was removed to a temporary
vault to permit of alterations to the monument. The shaft was made
twenty feet higher, and other changes were made costing $100,000.
April 24, 1901. the body was again transferred to the monument without
public ceremony.