There was a huge demand for anything associated with the fallen President. The residents of the Petersen house would find strangers in the house trying to obtain a momento or two. Just look at all the relics today, doorknobs from both the Petersen house and the Surratt boarding house, trim from the Herndon/Lincoln law office, nails from everywhere, pieces of the gallows, rope from the hanging, you name it, it's been collected.