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The Lincoln Memorial Shrine

A Lincoln Museum in Redlands, CA

Two hundred years after his birth, the life and legacy of Abraham Lincoln continues to fascinate and inspire. Born into poverty on the edge of an untamed frontier, his rise from obscurity to greatness has become a symbol of the universal hope that we can all improve our circumstances in life.

A Civil War Photo Album

Thanks to the generosity of a longtime Redlands family, the Lincoln Memorial Shrine acquired an album of 60 photographs taken during and after the Civil War. Created by the Packer family in the postwar period, the album features family members and soldiers in uniform. Discover the story of the family and how the album found its way to Redlands.

Of the 31 men who appear in uniform, 17 men have been identified. While they have disparate surnames and cities of residence, they are all linked by their service in the 21st Connecticut Infantry, which was mustered into service in August, 1862. The regiment took part in the Battle of Fredericksburg, Siege of Suffolk, Battle of Drewry’s Bluff, Battle of Cold Harbor, Siege of Petersburg, and Battle of Chapin’s Farm, and were among the first regiments to enter Richmond after it was abandoned by the rebels. The regiment mustered out of service on June 16, 1865. When deciding on a date to commemorate their service, the veterans of the 21st Connecticut selected May 16, in remembrance of the hard fought 1864 Battle of Drewry’s Bluff where the regiment sustained 117 casualties.

Of the 18 identified men in the album, 8 sustained injuries in battle, four were lost, and one was awarded a Medal of Honor. Meet the brave men of the 21st Connecticut Infantry.

William C. Bassett

Daniel D. Brown

Frederick W.H. Buell

Thomas F. Burpee

Cyrus W. Cook

Alvin M. Crane

Arthur H. Dutton

William G. Hawkins

Paul H. Hilliard

William S. Hubbell

Isaac D. Kenyon

James H. Latham

William W. Latham

E. Perry Packer

Frederick A. Rich

George W. Shepard

Philo F. Talcott

Edwin S. Wheeler

Learn more about the regiment in “From the Shrine’s Collections: Colonel Chapin & the 21st Infantry Regiment,” a webinar available on the Special Collections YouTube channel.

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Mission Statement

As a museum and memorial, the Lincoln Memorial Shrine seeks to deepen the understanding of President Abraham Lincoln and the American Civil War and its impacts on generations of Americans through education, interaction, exhibition, and research.

Donate to the LMS

If you would like to give a donation to the Lincoln Memorial Shrine, please contact Nathan Gonzales, Curator at (909)798-7632 or heritage@akspl.org.

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Contact Us

Research Center - (909) 798-7632

Museum - (909) 798-7636

125 West Vine Street Redlands, CA

 

Group Tours

Tours are temporarily unavailable.

Hours of Operation

Monday Closed
Tuesday Closed
Wednesday Closed
Thursday Closed
Friday Closed
Saturday Closed
Sunday Closed

Copyright © 2021 · Lincoln Memorial Shrine, All Rights Reserved

The Lincoln Memorial Shrine is a unit of the Special Collections Division of A.K. Smiley Public Library. The Watchorn Lincoln Memorial Association, a 501 (c)3 tax deductible organization oversees the WLMA endowment.

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