President’s Message By Andrew E. Masich President & CEO

man behind the presidency, by exploring Lincoln’s sense of humor, his physical appearance, and his role as a family man. Visitors can also see the entire Lincoln bedroom set from the Monongahela House, complete with his ornate walnut bed, bureau, wash stand, and even his chamber pot, from his historic trip to Pittsburgh. Along the way, visitors can also see images of other Lincoln bedroom sets, including his 1863 bed from Gettysburg, Pa. Photo by Tom Gigliotti. and the bed in which he died at the Peterson House, across the street from Ford’s Theatre Lincoln in Pittsburgh in Washington, D.C. On a cold and rainy evening in February 1861, thousands of Through this exhibition and other Pittsburghers gathered at the Allegheny City train station to celebrate Lincoln-related materials, visitors get up the arrival of President-elect Abraham Lincoln. close and personal with our most famous The frenzied crowd waited for hours as Lincoln’s whistle-stop president during this 200th-anniversary tour arrived two hours past its anticipated 6:00 p.m. arrival. Lincoln, celebration year. exhausted from his travels and heading to Washington, D.C. for his As Abe himself once said during a inauguration, promised to speak to the crowd the following day. speech, “I have stepped out upon this On the morning of February 15, 1861, Lincoln presented a now- platform so that I may see you and that famous speech to nearly 15,000 spectators who gathered below his you may see me, and in the arrangement Monongahela House hotel balcony. I have the best of the bargain.” Located at the corner of Smithfield and Water streets—now Right: An 1864 campaign ribbon. Both HC L&A. known as Fort Pitt Boulevard—the Monongahela House was the finest hotel in the city during the 19th century, a commanding, five- Bottom: The Monongahela House where Lincoln stayed on his visit to Pittsburgh en story building with stylish white marble floors and black walnut route to his inauguration. stairways. Lincoln’s Monongahela House speech intended to soothe the public’s growing fear over a possible war. “There is no crisis—except an artificial one,” Lincoln said, as he pointed across the Monongahela River. “If we can just keep cool, we can settle the crisis to the satisfaction of all.” Lincoln’s speech, his visit to Pittsburgh, and his unique personal characteristics help to bring our most famous president to life as part of the History Center’s newest exhibition, Lincoln: The Constitution and the Civil War and Lincoln Slept Here. Created in collaboration with the National Constitution Center in Philadelphia, the Lincoln exhibition encourages visitors to get to know the

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