Description

This lithograph was done from a sketch by W. Waud which shows the receiving vault into which President Abraham Lincoln's casket was placed on May 22, 1865, in Oak Ridge Cemtery, Springfield, Illinois. A wooded hill rises behind the vault. The sun's rays are coming down through the trees to shine on the door to the vault. In front of the vault stands a woman holding the hand of a young boy and an older boy. It is possible that they represent Mrs. Lincoln with her older son, Robert, and her younger son, Tad, although Mrs. Lincoln and Tad were actually not in the cemetery on May 22. Lincoln's casket and that of his son Willie remained in the receiving vault until December 21, 1865, when their remains were moved to a temporary vault while the permanent tomb was being constructed in the cemetery. Part of the Lincoln Financial Foundation Collection, courtesy of the Indiana State Museum