Fort Sumter

Fort Sumter was a Union fort outside of Charleston, South Carolina. The Confederates fired on Fort Sumter in April of 1861, beginning the Civil War.

Fortress Monroe

Fortress Monroe was a Union held fort where commander General Benjamin Butler declared slaves war contraband and freed those who came to the fort.

Appomattox Court House

General Robert E. Lee surrendered at the Appomattox Court House in Virginia on April 9, 1865, ending the Civil War.

New Orleans

As a young man, Lincoln took two trips to New Orleans to deliver merchandise for an employer. It is known that Lincoln came into contact with slaves during these trips. Lincoln wrote to friends of his impressions of these encounters, suggesting both horror and some fascination with an institution that would come to form Lincoln's legacy.

Gettysburg Address

The Gettysburg Address is a speech Lincoln gave at Gettysburg, the scene of the Union...