Erie's History and Memorabilia

President Abraham Lincoln died on April 15, 1865, several hours after he was fatally shot by John Wilkes Booth. A train bearing the president's remains toured the country on its way from Washington, D.C. to Springfield, Illinois. The Lincoln Funeral Train stopped in Erie on Friday, April 28, 1865. City Officials knew the train was going to travel through Erie on its way from Buffalo, New York to Cleveland, Ohio, early in the morning of April 28th, but a superintendent of the Cleveland and Erie Railroad had contacted city officials and ask them not to have any ceremonies because the people on the funeral train were exhausted. Along the way that morning, the train passed through towns bordering Lake Erie. The town of Erie had been reached at 2:50 a.m. where city leaders had been mislead by the train officials into believing that no stops would be made between Buffalo and Cleveland. Erie officials hurriedly arranged a few dignitaries and a small torchlight gathering

In February of 1861 President-elect Abraham Lincoln traveled from Springfield to Washington, D.C., visiting his supporters and finding his voice on his way to taking the oath of office on March 4, 1861. Along the way the President-elect stopped in Erie at the request of the Erie County Republican Club. Lincoln’s visit was arranged by the club writing a letter to Lincoln on February 1, 1861, which read: Hon. A. Lincoln, President Elect Dear Sir, As it is announced that your route to Washington will be through Cleveland & Buffalo, and consequently through this place we address you to ascertain if it would be convenient for you to make a short stay at Erie. Our city is connected with the interior of the State by the Sunbury & Pittsburg Railroads, thus enabling the people at the lines of those Roads an opportunity of meeting you which they could not have at any other point. Your reception here would not be partisan in its character, though the political sentiment of this pa