Lincoln’s War day two


The wartime president Ken Burns sees Abraham Lincoln as the central figure of the Civil War,


representing the different perspectives and motivations of the nation, and the personification of “The Union.” In 1861, Lincoln – who Ken Burns calls “a poet president” – took office as the elected leader of a country about which a prediction he made three years earlier, in a phrase borrowed from the New Testament, had become all too true: “A house divided against itself cannot stand.” Today, you’ll learn that the story of this complex man and his struggle to keep that “house” together through four terrible years of war may not be as one-dimensional as some versions of history would have us believe.


Gain unexpected insights into Lincoln’s thinking and experience on in- depth visits to three key Washington, DC locations that figured prominently in the 16th President’s wartime life and work: President Lincoln’s Cottage, where the Lincoln family spent the wartime summers of 1862 – 1864; the Library of Congress, for a guided tour of this key source for Ken Burns when researching his film The Civil War; and Ford’s Theatre, the site of Lincoln’s assassination on the night of April 14, 1865. Today’s stories will foster a new understanding of Lincoln’s presidency and his conduct of the war as Commander-in-Chief; of the personal life of this often-troubled man attempting to preserve the integrity of his country at its most critical moment; and of the tragic final hours of one of America’s most discussed and most revered leaders. This evening is free for you to explore more of the nation’s capital on your own.


At President Lincoln’s Cottage – Lincoln’s “Camp David,” where he is believed to have crafted the Emancipation Proclamation – an innovative tour emphasizes stories of the Lincoln family’s time here.


Call your travel agent or Tauck at 800-468-2825


Explore Ford’s Theatre, where Lincoln was fatally shot by actor John Wilkes Booth on April 14, 1865.


A tour of the Library of Congress, Congress’ research arm, touches on many aspects of the Civil War.


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