Lincoln's Funeral Train Procession: Passing Monkton Station

History: President Abraham Lincoln's funeral train procession passed through numerous towns on the Northern Central Railroad on the way from Baltimore to Harrisburg, Pennsylvania and ultimately to Lincoln's home town in Springfield, Illinois. Monkton Station stood witness to this solemn event in the early evening of April 21, 1865, when Lincoln made his final visits in state throughout Maryland.

More to Explore: Monkton is a superb area for exploring Maryland's outdoors. The former Northern Central Railroad is now the Torrey C. Brown Rail Trail. After perusing the museum and gift shop within the restored Monkton Train Station, hike, bike or walk the gentle grade through serene woodlands and quaint railroad towns toward the Mason and Dixon Line. Bike rentals and a caf'e are located in Monkton.

The trail continues to York, Pennsylvania. The Big Gunpowder Falls winds alongside the trail, and provides access for tubing and fly fishing in a cold stream that supports natural populations of brown and rainbow trout. Gunpowder Falls State Park intersects the trail north of Monkton. Here an extensive network of foot trails meander through the canyon-like Gunpowder Valley, reaching to the Prettyboy Dam in the northwest. When you are ready to return from the wild, the York Road corridor offers plenty of places to eat, shop and stay.

Monkton Station is open Wed - Sun from Memorial Day weekend through Labor Day weekend and on weekends only during the months of May and September. The rest of the year it is closed with the exception of occasional programs.

Photo Credits:

1. "A lithograph of the assassination of President A. Lincoln, at Ford’s theater."
2. "Photograph of President Abraham Lincoln’s funeral train car." Prints courtesy of Library of Congress Prints and Photographs Division.