Title: Silk Flag Fragment from Abraham Lincoln’s Funeral Train – Indianapolis Stop, April 30, 1865
Description:
This poignant relic is an original 7.25″ x 1″ red-and-white silk swatch, removed from a 36-star American flag that adorned the interior of one of the funeral cars in Abraham Lincoln’s funeral train. The fragment is preserved in a protective plastic sleeve and professionally mounted with a historical caption and period photograph, double-matted to an overall size of 11″ x 14″ for elegant display and preservation.
Historical Context:
After President Abraham Lincoln's assassination in April 1865, his body was transported from Washington, D.C., to his final resting place in Springfield, Illinois, via a specially arranged funeral train. The route included major public mourning stops, with Indianapolis serving as one of the key cities. The train arrived there at 7:00 AM on April 30, 1865, and departed at midnight the same day. Local citizens and officials prepared the city with immense care, including decorating the funeral train with custom-made 36-star American flags—each star representing a state in the Union at the time. After the train’s departure, many of these flags were preserved or gifted to prominent local families as sacred mementos of the historic occasion.
Authentication & Encapsulation:
This silk flag remnant is encapsulated in clear archival plastic for both preservation and display, affixed to a professionally typeset mount with a black-and-white image of Lincoln's funeral train. While no third-party certification is mentioned, the piece’s documented provenance and careful presentation reflect a serious curatorial standard.
Closing Appeal:
This rare artifact provides a deeply tangible link to one of the most solemn moments in American history. As a preserved remnant from the very fabric that lined Lincoln’s funeral train during its Indianapolis stop, it offers collectors and historians alike a powerful, physical connection to the national mourning of April 1865 and the enduring legacy of America’s 16th president.
