01-30-2015, 11:22 AM
I have (again) a question. It is known that Lincoln’s coffin was opened five times (December 21, 1865, September 19, 1871, October 9, 1874, April 14, 1887, and September 26, 1901) and that he was twice (or thrice ?) removed to another coffin / casket (September 19, 1871 to an iron casket; October 9, 1874 to a red cedar coffin, because the iron casket was too large to fit into the sarcophagus, and November 14, 1876 to a crude coffin). I wonder, were the remains actually replaced, or was Lincoln’s original coffin placed in an outer coffin to better protect it, which means that Lincoln is still in his original coffin. And when this coffin was opened, I suppose the upper lid was then taken off, and only an opening was made in the lead lining of the coffin, so they could roll it partially back to look inside. And of course the remains were sealed again in lead after the viewing. Is this what actually happened?