The life-size bronze figures of Abraham Lincoln (1809-1865)  that stand at the entrance to the New-York Historical Society bring to life the story of freedom that is deeply embedded in American history and is a primary focus of New-York Historical’s programs. Throughout his candidacy and presidency, Lincoln emphasized a new birth of freedom for the United States and identified slavery as a moral and political issue that threatened the nation’s survival. Although Lincoln’s home state was Illinois, it was New York politicians, journalists, and image-makers who engineered his rise to the top of the Republican ticket in the 1860 election. His assassination in 1865 united New Yorkers, who turned out en masse to file by the casket lying in state at City Hall and participate in the funeral procession.

Throughout his candidacy and presidency, Abraham Lincoln emphasized a new birth of freedom for the United States and identified slavery as a moral and political issue that threatened the nation’s survival. And though Lincoln is typically associated with his home state of Illinois, New Yorkers helped engineer Lincoln’s rise, as a newcomer on the national stage, to the top of the Republican ticket in the 1860 election.