Replica Lincoln funeral train to highlight Civil War-themed weekend at N.C. Transportation Museum
Published 10:50 pm Friday, July 24, 2015
SPENCER — The N.C. Transportation Museum will host the Lincoln Funeral Train and the Leviathan locomotive for a full weekend of Civil War-era re-creations, music, living history, tours, sutlers and more, Aug. 28-30.
The Lincoln Funeral Train is a full-size replica of the train that carried the mortal remains of Abraham Lincoln from Washington, D.C. to Springfield, Ill., in May of 1865. The N.C. Transportation Museum will feature train rides behind this historic replica, a composite reenactment of some of the stops the train made across the nation, allowing the mourners to pay their respects, and a host of other Civil War-themed activities. The museum’s 57-acre site will be filled with reenactors, living history demonstrations, live music, expert speakers and much more.
Festivities begin Friday, Aug. 28, with Dinner and Music of the Civil War. This 1860s-era dinner and tasting of the First Ladies’ desserts will take place in the museum’s historic Bob Julian Roundhouse. The Huckleberry Brothers will provide a full performance of authentic music from the 1860s, brought to life with five-string banjo, fiddle, guitar, concertina, tin whistle, bones and tambourine, while Civil War reenactors provide an artillery display near the turntable. This special offering is separate from the daytime event ticket purchase.
Saturday, Aug. 29, and Sunday, Aug. 30 will feature reenactments of a stop by the Lincoln Funeral Train on the Bob Julian Roundhouse turntable. The replica engine and funeral train car have been created as an accurate representation of the train that moved Abraham Lincoln’s remains, and his son’s remains, across the country after his death. Tours of the car and reenactments of the train’s stops across the country will take visitors back in time, to the close of one of the most tenuous periods in our nation’s history.
Civil War reenactors, cannon firings, living history demonstrations, Civil war-era weapons, a children’s military drill experience, history presentations, and live performances by the Huckleberry Brothers will add to the experience of stepping back in time. A funeral march and grand review of the reenactors will round out each day’s events.
Saturday night, the museum offers “Lincoln Lost: Historical Vignettes Lantern Tour.” Guides in period dress will lead tours every 15 minutes, with living history demonstrators telling how they heard the news of Lincoln’s assassination and what it meant to them. Nighttime cannon fire will round out this special evening event, offered separately from the general ticket purchase.
Other offerings will include the Emancipation Proclamation “Freedom For All” exhibit, children’s activities and games, and sutlers selling Civil War-era items. A full listing of activities and more can be found at www.nctrans.org.
Admission to Saturday and Sunday daytime events is $14 for children ages 3-12 and $18 for adults. Admission plus the Leviathan train ride is $20 for children ages 3-12 and $25 for adults.
Friday night, Aug. 28, tickets for Dinner and Music of the Civil War featuring the Huckleberry Brothers is $25 for individuals or $40 for the couple. Tickets include the full dinner, reenactors, and the music of the Huckleberry Brothers.
“Lost Lincoln: Vignettes By Lantern Light” will be offered Saturday night, Aug. 29, and will take place every 15 minutes from 7:15 p.m. to 9 p.m. Guests will also enjoy nighttime cannon fire to round out the evening.
Saturday Only Combo tickets include Saturday admission, the train ride and lantern tour for $35 per person.
Weekend Combo tickets include Dinner and Music of the Civil War, Saturday or Sunday daytime admission plus the train ride and the Lost Lincoln Lantern Tours. The ticket cost is $55 per person.
Tickets are available online at www.nctrans.org . However, combination options must be ordered by phone at 704-636-2889 ext. 224.