The Lincoln models once displayed on this floor have been donated to the new Abraham Lincoln Presidential Library and Museum in Springfield, Illinois.
Lincoln's Home Model
In 1844, Abraham Lincoln and his family moved into a residence on the corner of Eighth and Jackson Streets in Springfield, Illinois. This was to be the only house he ever owned. It was in this home that Mr. Lincoln enjoyed 17 years of family life before moving to Washington, D.C. to become the president of the United States.
This 1/12 miniature model of the home was built by the late Thomas J. Dyba, former Executive Vice President of Benedictine University.
Funeral Train Model
When it wasn't being exhibited in various locations throughout the United States, the Abraham Lincoln Funeral Train was displayed on the fourth floor of the Library. The model is an accurate one-twelfth-scale model of the funeral train which carried President Lincoln's body from Washington, D.C. to Springfield, Illinois, in 1865. It was built by Dr. Wayne Wesolowski, Professor Emeritus of our Chemistry Department. The 15 foot model took Dr. Wesolowski nearly four and one-half years to construct and represents thousands of hours of model building time. It features a bunting-draped locomotive, the President's private car, the elaborate hearse and the honor guard carrying President Lincoln's coffin.
