Greeting President Lincoln

On the evening of November 18, 1863, Abraham Lincoln arrived in Gettysburg at the train station and stayed the night at the home of resident David Wills. It was in a bedroom at the Wills house that Lincoln put the finishing touches on the remarks he would give the next day at the dedication of a cemetery for soldiers who died there four and a half months earlier.

150 years later, I traveled to Gettysburg to commemorate Lincoln's arrival.

I arrived at the Gettysburg train station around 5:15pm, approximately 45 minutes before Lincoln arrived 150 years earlier. The station, which has been added onto over the years, is now one of the city's visitor centers. Filled with info and exhibits, I spent some time reading and waiting for Lincoln to arrive.

Gettysburg train station

Around 5:30, a band portraying the Marine Corps band during the 1860s had assembled outside the station to play some music. They were soon joined by David Wills and we all waited for the President to arrive. Right on cue, the President arrived around 6pm and the band played "Hail to the Chief." He gave a few remarks and then made his way through the station and onto the streets of Gettysburg.

Lincoln and Wills made their way to Wills' home amid a huge crowd. Along the way, they talked about a variety of pressing topics, among them being that Lincoln's son Tad was suffering from a fever.

Lincoln and Wills on the streets of Gettysburg

Upon arriving at the Wills house, Lincoln spent over an hour on the steps of the home, talking with people, taking photos, and answering questions.

I ventured inside to get out of the cold and wind. While there, I met Michael McKee and his wife. As it turns out, Michael is the great great grandson of David Wills on his mother's side. His grandmother remembered visiting the home as a very young girl before it was sold out of the family after David Wills' death in 1894. It was really neat to stand in the Wills home with a direct descendant.

In the Wills house with Wills' great great grandson

Overall, it was a really cool experience. Spending the evening walking in the footsteps of Lincoln and Wills exactly 150 years after they made the journey from the station to the house was awesome.