Digging Up Lincoln's Body on Route 66!!! | History Traveler Episode 363 

To me Lincoln was the best president for the US, he was a true hero and a true warrior for freedom god bless his soul and may he rest in the best peace ever❤

Man, this happens every time. I was in Springfield a month or so ago. I did the house tour, went to his law office, then went to the tomb. Came back the next weekend and spent an entire day in the library and museum. What was the one thing I missed? The receiving area behind the tomb. But that’s one of the reasons I watch this channel. Let’s me know what I need to see when I go back.

I am a major history nerd and Lincoln has always been my favorite president (grew up in small town Northern IL 😊) I remember making a school trip here almost a year to date after September 11 and there was still a lot of fear about another attack- the state capital had pretty high security at the time. I’ve been to the museum as an adult, but not the tomb- I need to get back! Thanks for this in the meantime 😊 Love your videos about our presidents!

Definitely sounding good. 👍 I’ve been to Springfield Illinois. I saw Lincoln’s tomb and his house he lived in prior to 1860. Some grave robbers tried to steal his body.

Excellent presentation, JD. Thanks brother! 👍

Thanks for sharing this with us. My family was from Springfield. A lot of them are buried directly behind Lincoln. What a great cemetery. The Lincoln memorial is amazing.

This is why I subscribed to The History Underground with J.D. Sir you are a great story teller of history. I've been here for about 2 years now and I appreciate and enjoy EVERYTHING you put together for my brain to enjoy. Thanks a bunch !!

This re-upload is much better than the first time. We can actually hear you and learn things that only you can do. Great job as usual JD!

I was particularly thrilled with this episode, as we live in Springfield, IL. Many of the places in the area that are tied to Lincoln still exist. You mentioned his home (the only house he ever owned). Others include one of his law offices, the church they attended, and the building that had been the capitol while he was in the state legislature. Just a few miles to the northwest of Springfield is Lincoln's New Salem. It is the site where he first moved as a young man to make his own way in life. When the town died out, literally all of the buildings were moved to Petersburg (That's a story in itself). Many years later, New Salem was reconstructed to look as close as possible to the way it did when he lived there. Unfortunately, one place that no longer exists was the home of Ninian Wirt Edwards and his wife Elizabeth Todd Edwards. Ninian served as state attorney general as well as in both houses of the Illinois legislature. Elizabeth just happened to be Mary Todd's sister. When Mary left Kentucky to live in Springfield, she lived with Ninian and Elizabeth, and that was where young Abraham courted her. The house stood on the corner of 2nd and Edwards street, and was razed to make room for the construction of the building that would house the Secretary of State offices, now called the Howlett Building (I worked there for several years). J.D. mentioned the attempt to steal Lincoln's body. The ironic thing about that episode is that the Secret Service was not involved because he had been the president. Lincoln himself had been instrumental in forming the Secret Service to combat Confederate attempts to destroy the Union's economy by counterfeiting US currency. That was the sole purpose of the Secret Service for many years and only later would be tasked with protecting the President and other dignitaries. The Secret Service was involved because the schemers were a counterfeiting ring. One interesting item in Springfield not related to Lincoln is the prosthetic leg of none other than Antonio Lopez de Santa Anna. During the Mexican American War, Illinois troops took it as "spoils of war" and brought it home with them. It is now in the Illinois State Military Museum, although I do not believe that it currently on display.

When you were showing the newspaper in the museum, it made me think that I have a wallpaper newspaper from the Civil War that my dad found when he was a child in the house his parents were renting. It’s a pretty amazing artifact.

Lived in a small town on Route 66 for most of my life, Carlinville, IL. It's one of the many small towns south of Springfield. It's nice to see that area get some attention.

JD, your content never ever ceases to amaze me! Thank you for not only sharing the Route 66 so far but great American history. Lincoln…. Wow! You’re a great Patriot JD! 🇺🇸

I'm a central IL girl. Lincoln's IL history is incredible!

Glad to see the video is back. When it disappeared, I was afraid I insulted you re my comment on the initial loud music. The Lincoln burial is especially interesting and a bit crazy. I read somewhere he was actually just buried in the ground with boards thrown on top to throw off possible thieves until the final monument was completed. Cannot wait for the next episode. 🥰 Safe travels.

Very interesting 🤔 and I love the way you give us the history that means so much to us 🙏 thanks 👍

Lincoln's security was amazingly lax. It's incredible to think that he would often go completely unguarded all over the place. I know Boothe had plans to kidnap Lincoln on one of his rides, but wasn't able to make it happen.

I grew up in Illinois and have visited Springfield and the Lincoln home and tomb, and still learning more.

Dude,your skirting my neck of the woods.

Saw this video and we decided we needed to go so DH and I headed to Springfield for a couple days. Thoroughly enjoyed our visit and learned so much. We’ll need to go back once the refurb on his monument is completed. Thanks for highlighting this amazing location.

Both the museum and tomb are fantastic places to visit.

JD, thanks for sharing your trip. Route 66 is my next bucket list check off, hopefully visiting some MLB stadiums, another bucket list item.. I never thought the quality of your videos was lacking, but wow...The skill, time, and care spent editing is obvious and much appreciated. Great work, brother. Can't wait for the rest of the series.

Fantastic presentation! Thank you JD.

Great Video! When I was a boy in the Scouts on Mother's Day Weekend, we would go to Springfield and gather at the tomb. Hundreds of Boy Scouts would hike from the Tomb all the way down town. It was a lot of fun. I've been to Springfield hundreds of times but have not ever been to the museum. But then again, I've lived 30 minutes from downtown St. Louis all of my life and it took up to my 40th birthday to go up in the Arch! Thanks for your perspective.!

Thank you JD for doing this trip. And the Lincoln Museum was great. And have seen his tomb. And all the stories of it. Thanks for sharing! 💕👊👍

My wife and I stopped by the American Giants Museum on 7/18/24. It was very interesting. Shout out to Mattingly Automotive, in Atlanta. The low air pressure light came on in our CRV, and we stopped at Mattingly Automotive to check. One of the mechanics checked all tires, and added air where needed. He would not take anything for his help. We really appreciated it.

J.D I am enjoying your travels on Route 66, and President Lincoln was one of 3 Presidents that I have always admired and loved, and though I live in Upper Northeast Illinois, there is no way I will ever get down to see all this, or be able to afford getting down there to see all this and say overnight to see everything, so this was very nice to see it all. God bless you. Stay safe..

Thank you JD. I have loved every one of your "History Chapters" represented in these videos. Just so you know. I have watched everyone from #1 to this EPISODE 363. I can only say Amazing. I LOVE history. Shouldn't that be true if we love our Country??? We can't know what we don't understand! When we discover the history, we discover TRUTH. How else can we UNDERSTAND the present. Thank you for your continuing journey.

Thank you! Love.

Thanks for the walk through! Always have been interested in American History, civil war and Indian wars. Greetings from 🇩🇪

JD, you should look up the Crenshaw House in Southern Illinois before it is gone. Lincoln had some formative lessons from staying there.

I’m loving this series, today’s video is one of my favorites! God bless!🙏🏻🙏🏻

I went to Springfield last summer. It was a great experience. Also saw West Branch just after Springfield where Herbert Hoover is buried.

I look forward to visiting Former President Lincoln in a couple of years. Another fantastic video Thank you.

Thank you

This was a cool destination. Thanks for all the insight into Lincoln

I love the nostalgia of Route 66. I recently did some exploring there myself , thanks JD for another great series.🇺🇸

Hodgenville and Knob Creek are right up the road. Well worth a visit for Lincoln enthuiast

Thanks for sharing. I rememver seeing the tomb when I was younger. Beautiful and somber place.

Thank you JD. Awesome Work as usual!

It may just me, but a t4:15 it looks like a giant Alfred E Newman!

Very well done, sir, as always! 🇺🇸

Thanks for the video JD. Good stuff. I still go back once in awhile and watch Lincoln. Daniel Day-lewis and Sally Field were so AMAZING in that movie. That scene where Mary (Sally) loses it and they aruge. Holy smokes. Just some amazing acting.

Great research and presentation. Thank you.

Thank you JD. Another awesome video. Enjoyed the drive on the original Route 66. Driving this road is a true history lesson of the US. Can’t wait for what you have in store for us in the next video. 👍😊

Sarah Bush Johnston Lincoln had a very strong influence on Lincoln. She was literate and brought a collection of books with her when Thomas Lincoln brought her to Indiana. She encouraged Abe to read and this helped him tremendously. He credited her with his becoming a successful lawyer and president. There is a hospital named for her in Charleston, IL. Incidentally, both Tom Hanks and George Clooney are distant relatives of Lincoln's through his mother Nancy Hanks Lincoln.

Enjoyed this very much. Got to see this place someday ! Keep up the great presentations ! I watch very little television these days, most of my entertainment is found on RU-vid and I must say your channel is at the top of my list !

Springfield Illinois is notorious for luring people to the Lincoln sites. Regurgitating the Story of Lincoln with stunning visual and audio effects. (for a small fee) It’s a nice city to visit, and a endeavor challenge of perseverance. A hero or villain; Decisions that plunged a young nation of the people by the people into swift confrontational bloodshed. Matthew 12:25 Did victory become America’s Freedom in the spirit of reciprocity? Lincoln addressed what others avoided. Hero

Going to be a great series. Right through the American heartland. I’m a westerner from Colorado and much prefer mountainous terrain but I’m glad someone grows all that corn.

What you might not of known is that Governor Richard Oglesby, whom My Husband Paul is distantly related to, Was head of all the burial for Lincoln, he fought during the Civil war and was a good and close friend of President Lincolns. Mary Tood Lincoln was too distraught when he was murdered so Gov. Oglesby took over.🙂Just an FYI that not many know about..I have a book called Lincon's Rail Splitter, Governor Richard J. Oglesby, which talks aobut his life and the friendship he had with Lincoln.

Great Job JD! Thank you for sharing and I'm always learning from you! Thank you for keeping History Alive!

Honest Abe. My family married into his back mid 18th century. Intertwined with the Boone family, as well. Daniel Boone's uncle James (my 6th GG) married Mary Foulke. They had a daughter Ann Foulke Boone who married Abraham Lincoln. This Abraham Lincoln is the president's GG's brother. That is how the rumor started that Daniel Boone was related to President Lincoln. They are but it is rather distant. One step further, if you go to another Aunt of Daniel's, his father's sister Sarah Boone, she was President Eisenhower's 4th GG as she married Jacob Stover Sr. So technically speaking, President Lincoln, Daniel Boone, and President Eisenhower share ancestors. Along with this random RU-vid commenter.

Great video. I live about 40 minutes away from the birthplace of Abraham Lincoln’s mom. Nancy Hanks cabin is in new creek WV 😊

I really enjoy the Route 66 videos with the history lesson along with it. Your videos never disappoint

Pumped to see the rest of this series! When you roll through Flagstaff AZ, you should stop and eat at Miz Zips!.. Great food and it's on 66!

Very nice video.... Lincoln's Tomb is on my bucket list....

When coming thru to Kansas near Missouri go to Galena Kansas it is a beautiful town on 66 and has alot of history. I live only a few miles from there safe trip my friend

Nice work JD. This is fun series you got rolling.

Outstanding... Thanks.😊

"This is a dang mess"... 😆 🤣 😂

I just got done eating, but i could squeeze that burger and fries in.....

Very cool video

Your museum visit videos are always so interesting. The Lincoln museum is very impressive!

Dang brother...I'm just now seeing your video's again. RU-vid algorithm is wack because I live in Springfield and i would of loved to meet you. Anyway I love your super informative video's. Much love from Springfield, IL 👊🤙

Absolutely loving this series! Great job, JD! I can't wait to see what else you come across on your trip!

I could hear you fine last time JD. I have this fancy thing called a volume control on my magic watching box 😅

Hi J.D., I'm a big fan and love and support your work first of all but want to mention a correction. Edwin M. Stanton was mentioned as Andrew Stanton I think. I'm a Canadian and proud of myself to know everyone's history pretty decently and in some part because of your videos educating me :) Cheers.

Man! I need to do this route in my classic mini lol

I had the chance to visit there. Fascinating place!

Great video series JD . Thank you for doing them . God bless you.

Fantastic-what a beautiful memorial

You missed out. Lincoln's home is a great visit. The whole neighborhood is preserved in the period.

I found on my Route 66 trip that it was hit or miss on places being open, most likely because it is run by a couple people. Even if a website said they were open sometimes that wasn't the case. I learned to just call ahead to check.

Excellent video! What a great man. Thanks for sharing.

WOW thank you for this, he was a great man.

Another fascinating story related to Lincoln’s tomb involves the story of Fleetwood Lindlay who was the last living person to see Lincoln’s face. Fleetwood Lindlay died in 1963 almost 100 years after Lincoln’s murder.

4:00 I'm surprised you didn't see the "Rocket Man" in Wilmington, Il earlier. He used to be like the Paul Bunyan one with the hot dog, but now he's in a space suit holding a little rocket. There was a dispute with the new owners of the property, and I know they wanted Rocket Man gone, so he might not be there anymore. If not, I hope somebody bought him.

The slaves were considered war contraband.

JD for Vice President!!!

Dang, you were right through my backyard (Normal) less than 6 blocks away. Wish i had known!

This was really cool.! Would love to visit here! Usually when we are on Route 66. We are heading to Tennessee or coming back!( we are in Oregon).... Next time!❤

Excellent video as usual! Headed that way later in the year. Thanks!

Very cool

Fantastic video. Cant wait to visit. Thanks.

Very cool video! Been hoping you would cover Lincoln in Springfield for some time. I’ve heard that the Lincoln museum has a copy of the Gettysburg address. Did you see it on your visit?

Loved this! Thank you. !

Thank you for a very interesting video. Well done.

Nicely done JD, And very informative

I grew up just a couple of blocks from his tomb, my high school girlfriend claimed to be a descendant of mary todd on her mothers side. it's quite possible that mary todd had mental health issues. there was history of it in the family, if she was truly a descendant.

Never heard anyone say the war had nothing to do with slavery. Just people saying it was to free the slaves and others including me saying it was over what they could do with slaves and they were set free to stop the war.

Very cool video!

I love this! Thank you!

Great video. Quality abd info is top notch

JD, did you know that Lewistown, PA has one of the stones from Lincoln's tomb in the town square? I can send you a copy of an article about it, if you'd like.

Came across a story years ago about the days of dueling and perogatives of opponents - challenger having the right of slapping an offending face with a glove. In return the challenged had the right to choose location nd weapons. Lincolns challenger was a short man. Being tall himself he chose 6ft of water and sledgehammers as weapons. The duel never took place.

Great video, thanks for sharing

Nicely done!

Fine presentation.

I'm still upset that they took out John Wilks Booth when you first walk into the museum. He used to be leaning against the White House looking at the Lincoln family. It was perfectly ominous foreshadowing.

You weren't all that far from Ronald Reagan's boyhood home in Dixon, IL :)

In 2015 hundreds of reenactors came and did the Lincoln funeral. Definitely different from doing the battles. Was part of the artillery we fired rounds every hour if I remember. We encamped not far from the cemetery. It was definitely different. I still have the ribbon that was given that was a replica of the ribbons that were actually given out. I'm sure there is videos of the whole ordeal half the battery was a gun crew the other bunch would march in the parade. I got to see the train car they had on display. Like I said it was definitely different than doing the nationals. If it wasnt for school in 2011 I wanted to do Manassas. In 2012 was Shiloh I went to that. I had family at that battle. Wallaces zouaves. At the reenactment we fought by piatts zouaves which short story my father is originally from Ohio the two "mansions" of a few in the rural area was piatts castles. Whom fought in the civil war. 2013 my history teacher knew what I did and she told me to take off school for gettysburg. 2015 was Lincoln's funeral. Id say it was a fun go I dont do it anymore sadly.