Lincoln Depot Museum facts for kids
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| Former name | Peekskill Freight Depot |
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| Location | 41 South Water Street Peekskill, New York |
| Type | non-profit |
| Owner | Lincoln Depot Foundation 50 Hudson Avenue Peekskill, New York |
The Lincoln Depot Museum is a special place in Peekskill, New York. It is located inside an old building called the Peekskill Freight Depot. This museum helps us remember the important connection between Abraham Lincoln and Peekskill. It opened its doors to visitors on October 18, 2014. The Lincoln Depot Foundation manages the museum. Their goal is to keep this part of history alive.
Lincoln's Special Visit to Peekskill
On February 19, 1861, Abraham Lincoln was traveling to become president. His special train made a stop at the Peekskill Freight Depot. There, he gave a short speech to about 1,000 people. This was about one-third of Peekskill's population at the time!
Many believe Lincoln stopped because his friend, Congressman William Nelson, asked him to. Nelson was from Westchester County, New York. In his speech, Lincoln asked for support during a difficult time. Four states had already decided to leave the Union. This event eventually led to the Civil War. This was the only time Lincoln was recorded speaking in Westchester County. Newspapers at the time wrote about his visit. They noted how many people came to see him.
After President Lincoln was assassinated in 1865, his funeral train followed the same route. It also stopped in Peekskill on its way back to Springfield.
Peekskill is very proud of Lincoln's visit. A memorial stone, called the Lincoln Exedra, was put up in 1925. It overlooks the old depot. The speech was remembered on its 50th anniversary in 1911. It was also celebrated on its 100th anniversary in 1961. For the 1961 event, actors dressed as Lincoln and Nelson. They even re-enacted the speech. The Lincoln Society of Peekskill continues to keep Lincoln's memory alive. They organize many activities related to him.
Building the Museum
In April 2005, New York State Governor George Pataki helped get the first $600,000 for the museum. This money was part of a larger grant for waterfront projects in Westchester County, New York. By February 9, 2011, the Lincoln Depot Foundation had raised about $3 million. This allowed them to start building the museum.
WASA/Studio A, a company from New York City, was chosen as the architect. They helped turn the old freight depot into a museum. This is called an "adaptive reuse project." C&G Partners designed the ideas for the museum exhibits.
