Decoding the Lincoln Tomb: The True Story!

Decoding the Lincoln Tomb peels back the granite and bronze to reveal a restless story of memory, politics, and power. In this engaging talk, public historian Adam Krall walks us through the statues, symbols, and shifting design of Lincoln’s tomb—from its deconstruction and reconstruction to the many times Lincoln’s body was secretly moved and reburied. Drawing on the 1876 body-snatching plot, behind-the-scenes accounts from caretakers, and the often-overlooked people who literally built and rebuilt the monument, this program shows the tomb not as a quiet shrine, but as an evolving Civil War battleground over how Lincoln and the war he led would be remembered.
Adam Krall is a public historian and historic site interpreter with the Illinois Department of Natural Resources, based at the Lincoln Tomb State Historic Site in Springfield, Il. He holds a master's degree in public history from the University of Illinois at Springfield and has had a lifelong passion for the Civil War, especially Illinois soldiers’ experiences both in the field and in captivity. His current research centers on Quartermaster Sergeant Leroy L. Key of the 16th Illinois Cavalry and the leader of the “Regulators” at Andersonville POW camp, work that grows out of his graduate thesis. In addition to his historical site work—developing talks, tours, and educational programs for visitors of all ages—Adam co-hosts The Civil Weird Podcast, which explores the lesser-known, often overlooked stories that connect the Civil War era to the world we live in today. When he’s not in the archives or on the interpretive front line, he’s usually trying out new ways to make the past approachable and engaging for his wife, Sarah, and his two young sons, Adam and Georgie.