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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.

M1857 Napoleon 12-Pounder Field Gun

The United States Army adopted the Model 1857 12-pounder Napoleon Field Gun, or “light 12-pounder gun,” as a replacement to the M1841 6-pounder field guns and M1841 12-pounder howitzers. A combination of both weapons, it fired round shot shell, canister shot, common shell, and spherical case shot. Named after Napoleon III, nephew of Napoleon Bonaparte, the weapon was originally manufactured for the French military before its design was licensed by the United States. Cast in bronze, the Napoleon used a 2.5-pound charge of black powder, had a range of 1,700 yards and 1,440 feet per second, and weighed over 1,220 pounds.

Put into use just a few years prior to the Civil War, the Napoleon was more common among Federal armies than rebel forces and became the most common smoothbore cannon used during the conflict. By 1863, it was estimated to comprise 39% of artillery armament in both the Army of the Potomac and Army of Norther Virginia. While industrial advancements in the north allowed more than twice as many cannons to be manufactured for the Federals, rebel armies added to their arsenal during and after battles. Research has determines that the United States Army manufactured over 1,100 Napoleons during the war, while their rebel counterparts produced only around 500.

The Lincoln Memorial Shrine’s reproduction M1857 Napoleon 12-Pounder field gun dated 1864 is now on display in Smiley Park. Come see it in person. It’s the perfect selfie location! Make sure to tag #lincolnshine and use the hashtag #lincolnshrine to share your photos.

See the cannon in action!

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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.