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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.

P.A. Bell: Abolitionist

Abolitionist Philip Alexander Bell was born in New York City in 1808.  He received his education at the African Free School, which was founded in 1787 by members of the New York Manumission Society to educate the children of enslaved people and free people of color.  The Society, founded only two years earlier, promoted the abolition of the institution of slavery and battled against the slave trade.  At the age of 23, Bell became the New York City agent for William Lloyd Garrison’s abolitionist paper The Liberator.  Bell became well-known as an abolitionist, speaking on the topic and attending conferences related to the cause.  In addition to the abolition of slavery, Bell was also a champion of citizenship and suffrage for African Americans.

While living in New York in the 1850s, Bell also operated an “intelligence office”, or employment agency.  Bell’s firm sought to assist African Americans in need of work, some of whom may have been “fugitive” slaves.

(Lincoln Memorial Shrine)

In this manuscript, Joshua Whitney, who ran the Spring House resort in Richfield Springs, New York, writes to his friend Morgan Bryan in New York City, asking him to check in with Philip Bell about a cook and laundress he wanted to hire.  Whitney and Morgan were both from Richfield Springs, where they had served together as members of the local Episcopal Church.

Around 1860, Bell made his way to San Francisco, California, where he founded a new journalistic venture called The Elevator.  Bell published the first issue on April 7, 1865, only a couple of days before the surrender at Appomattox Court House.  The Elevator became a strong voice for African Americans in the Bay Area, advocating for Black suffrage and other causes important to African Americans.

Philip A. Bell continued to publish The Elevator until illness forced him to close in 1885.  He died four years later, financially impoverished, having survived his last years on meals from given by The Palace Hotel kitchen and private donations.

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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.

Make a Donation

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

Volunteer

Become a Lincoln Shrine docent! Share your knowledge about Abraham Lincoln, the Civil War, or American History. Contact the Heritage Room at (909)798-7632 or heritage@akspl.org for more information.

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Contact Us

Research Center - (909) 798-7632

Museum - (909) 798-7636

125 West Vine Street Redlands, CA

 

Group Tours

Guided tours are available by reservation for groups of 12 or more people.Please call (909)798-7632 for additional information.

Hours of Operation

Monday Closed
Tuesday 1pm - 5pm
Wednesday 1pm - 5pm
Thursday 1pm - 5pm
Friday 1pm - 5pm
Saturday 1pm - 5pm
Sunday 1pm - 5pm
Closed major holidays

Copyright © 2023 · 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.