Milford, Pennsylvania — For decades, the Pike County Historical Society in Milford, Pennsylvania has proudly displayed one of the nation’s most important and solemn relics.
It’s called the Lincoln Flag and it’s currently proudly displayed in the beautiful Lincoln Room at the Columns Museum, a 1904 neo-classical mansion which is home to the Pike County Historical Society in North Eastern Pennsylvania.
The historical society has been the home of the flag for decades and the story of how this important historical artifact got there is worth a visit alone.
That flag was originally in Lincoln’s box at the night of his assassination in 1865. It is believed after the gunshot rang out, and during the escape of the president’s assassin, John Wilkes Booth, an actor rushed to the president’s box. His name was Thomas Gourlay, and he and his family were members of the theater company there on the night of the shooting, April 14, 1865. While rushing to the president’s side, he grabbed a nearby flag and used it to cushion Lincoln on it.
Gourlay was also known to be one of the men to help Lincoln across the street from Ford’s Theater that night and may have used the flag during the transfer too.
Long after the president’s death, the 36-star flag was passed down to Gourlay’s daughter Jeannie. She later moved to Milford, Pennsylvania. Her descendants then donated the flag to the Pike County Historical Society in Milford, PA in 1954 along with an explanation of the line of possession.
Liz Steen, president of the historical society, says this flag and its presentation can be a teaching moment like no other.
“It connects you to the man behind the flag, Lincoln. And I think it does open people’s minds to learn more about him.”
Top Lincoln scholars concluded that the Lincoln Flag was the one used to comfort the dying president. While no DNA testing has been done on the flag to date, other tests correctly confirmed its age and that the blood is indeed human.
It is said that Ford’s Theater was missing two flags from the night of the assassination.
Steen says the cultural and educational impact of showcasing the flag and its history is very important. “One of the important lessons of having this flag on display and telling the story of the assassination of Lincoln does bring us to a point where we have to reflect on how political violence is really no way to survive in a democracy. “
She continues, “I have stood with many people in front of this flag, and I have seen people cry. I’ve gotten chills standing with these people. I have seen the very youngest of children learn how important Lincoln was.”
It’s a powerful part of American history, in a small-town museum in Pennsylvania. And its story on how it got there is just as fascinating as the story of the flag.
The Columns Museum has plenty of other historical artifacts dedicated to telling the story of Pike County and the surrounding towns. These include exhibits on the Lenape people native to the area, war veterans’ stories, and the earliest families from the area. For more information on all the exhibits of the museum, please check out https://www.pikehistorical.org
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