5th New York Duryea Zouaves Reenactment Unit
Songs, Speeches, Refreshments.
A donation of $10. for adults is suggested to support the work of the Lincoln Society and the Lincoln Depot Museum.”
Songs, Speeches, Refreshments.
A donation of $10. for adults is suggested to support the work of the Lincoln Society and the Lincoln Depot Museum.”
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LINCOLN TO BE REMEMBERED IN PEEKSKILL
The Lincoln Society and the Lincoln Depot Museum in Peekskill will co-sponsor a “LINCOLN REMEMBRANCE DAY” on Saturday, February 21st, 2026. The event will celebrate Abraham Lincoln’s only speaking stop in Westchester County during his lifetime on February 19, 1861 at the old railroad depot in Peekskill during the train journey to his Inauguration in Washington, DC. The 3-part event is open to the public. At 11:00 AM there will be a “Wreath-Laying Ceremony” at the Lincoln Exedra on South Street, which was dedicated in 1925 to mark Lincoln’s historic visit to Peekskill. The monument was constructed with funds raised by the Lincoln Society in Peekskill. It will include a re-enactment of Lincoln’s 1861 speech in Peekskill. At 11:30 AM a reading of Lincoln’s speech at Independence Hall in Philadelphia (PA) will take place to mark the 250th anniversary of our Declaration of Independence. This event will occur at the nearby Lincoln Depot Museum at 10 South Water Street in Peekskill. The public is invited and a $10. donation is suggested. The Lincoln Depot Museum opened ten years ago in 2014 and is the only Lincoln-related museum in the State of New York. At 12:00 Noon there will be a special presentation of a popular film entitled “ABRAHAM LINCOLN’S JOURNEY HOME” (2012) at the Lincoln Depot Museum. It features the noted Lincoln re-enactor Fritz Klein at the Illinois State House in Springfield and was produced by the National Park Service. Refreshments will be served following the film presentation. A donation of $10. for adults is suggested to support the work of the Lincoln Society and the Lincoln Depot Museum. Founded in 1903, the Lincoln Society in Peekskill is the only Lincoln group in Westchester County and one of the oldest Lincoln societies in the United States. |
ABRAHAM LINCOLN in PEEKSKILL
CELEBRATED on OCTOBER 25TH, 2025
Downloadable event flyer to print and share. Thank you.
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ABRAHAM LINCOLN IN PEEKSKILL
CELEBRATED ON OCTOBER 25TH The LINCOLN SOCIETY and the LINCOLN DEPOT MUSEUM in Peekskill will partner with the City of Peekskill to mark the Centennial of the LINCOLN EXEDRA – the only Lincoln monument in Westchester County – on Saturday, October 25th. The event will celebrate Abraham Lincoln’s only speaking stop in Westchester County during his lifetime on February 19, 1861 at the old railroad depot in Peekskill during the train journey to his Inauguration in Washington, DC. At the time, Lincoln had responded to a personal invitation from Peekskill attorney William Nelson, with whom he had served in the 30th Congress from 1846 to 1848. To mark Peekskill’s unique connection to America’s 16th President, a monument to Lincoln in the form of an “exedra” (a portico with a semi-circular bench) was constructed in 1925 by Antonio S. Renza Sr., president of the Peekskill Construction Company, on land donated by Civil War veteran John Smith Sr. – using funds raised by the LINCOLN SOCIETY IN PEEKSKILL, which was founded in 1903. The memorial tablet on the LINCOLN EXEDRA was crafted by the world-famous Tiffany Studios. The site on South Street was later deeded to the City of Peekskill. The event on October 25th will begin promptly at 1:00 PM at the LINCOLN EXEDRA on South Street. The Centennial re-dedication will be celebrated with music performed by the acclaimed West Point Brass Quintet, remarks by Peekskill Mayor Vivian McKenzie, the presentation of a memorial wreath, and the burial of a time capsule. Following the outdoor ceremony, a contingent of Civil War re-enactors will lead attendees to the nearby LINCOLN DEPOT MUSEUM at 10 South Water Street for an indoor program, which will feature a keynote address by noted historian Ted Widmer, author of LINCOLN ON THE VERGE: THIRTEEN DAYS TO WASHINGTON – to be followed by a reception with refreshments and a book signing. The admission charge at the reception is $10. for adults; children are free. The program at the LINCOLN DEPOT MUSEUM will include a surprise appearance by President-Elect Abraham Lincoln of Illinois. Dr. Ted Widmer resides in Providence, Rhode Island and earned his Ph.D. at Harvard University. He has taught courses at Brown University, Washington College, and Harvard University. Dr. Widmer is the recipient of the LINCOLN FORUM BOOK PRIZE, the ACHIEVEMENT AWARD from the Lincoln Group of New York, and the LINCOLN LEGACY AWARD from the LINCOLN SOCIETY IN PEEKSKILL.; Several Lincoln-related souvenirs will be available for purchase at the LINCOLN DEPOT MUSEUM on October 25th – including a newly-minted challenge coin, Dr. Widmer’s book, and a pen and ink drawing of “Lincoln in Peekskill” by noted artist Paul R. Martin III. Because traffic will be curtailed on South Street for the afternoon program at the LINCOLN EXEDRA, parking is suggested at the Municipal Parking Lot adjacent to Homestyle Desserts (GPS: 24 South Water Street, Peekskill, NY), which is located next door to the LINCOLN DEPOT MUSEUM. Parking is FREE on weekends. All are welcome to attend the outdoor and indoor portions of the Centennial event on October 25th. Significantly, only two communities in America have constructed a monument and opened a museum to honor Abraham Lincoln’s Inaugural train journey to begin his presidency in 1861 – his hometown of Springfield, Illinois and Peekskill, New York. The LINCOLN DEPOT MUSEUM was opened in 2014 after the site was rescued and renovated. It is the only Lincoln-related museum in the NY-CT-NJ tri-state area. Additional information on the October 25th event can be obtained by visiting the website of the LINCOLN SOCIETY IN PEEKSKILL: | ||
THE “NATIONAL ANTHEM” AND THE “BATTLE HYMN OF THE REPUBLIC” WILL BE SUNG BY SOLOIST ALYSSA MARTIN, ACCOMPANIED BY THE WEST POINT BRASS QUINTET.
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THE LINCOLN EXEDRA
The Lincoln Exedra was erected to commemorate the fact that Abraham Lincoln stopped in Peekskill February 19, 1861, on his way to Washington for his first in-auguration and addressed the large gathering of over a thousand Peekskill people who had met to do him honor. He spoke from the platform of his special train. He was introduced by Hon. William Nelson, who had served with him as a member of Congress from Peekskill in 1847. The Exedra was erected on land presented to The Lincoln Society in Peekskill by John Smith, Jr., a veteran of the Civil War, and President of the Lincoln Society from 1917 to 1918. It was designed by Gilbert H. Anderson, Peekskill architect, and a painting of it as envisioned by his brother, Vic-tor C. Anderson, the artist. Antonio S. Renza built the foundation and Grenci & Ellis furnished the granite from their Mohegan granite quarry. The bronze portrait tablet of Lincoln was the work of the Tiffany Studios in New York City. The Exedra was erected during the summer of 1925 and dedicated with fitting ceremonies on October 6, 1925. It cost $6100.85 and the work of raising the money, initiating and completing the project was done by the President of the Lincoln Society in Peekskill from 1925-1926, Chester A. Smith. The work of planning for it and finally complet-ing the payments for its erection occupied eight and one-half years.
The Lincoln Exedra was erected to commemorate the fact that Abraham Lincoln stopped in Peekskill February 19, 1861, on his way to Washington for his first in-auguration and addressed the large gathering of over a thousand Peekskill people who had met to do him honor. He spoke from the platform of his special train. He was introduced by Hon. William Nelson, who had served with him as a member of Congress from Peekskill in 1847. The Exedra was erected on land presented to The Lincoln Society in Peekskill by John Smith, Jr., a veteran of the Civil War, and President of the Lincoln Society from 1917 to 1918. It was designed by Gilbert H. Anderson, Peekskill architect, and a painting of it as envisioned by his brother, Vic-tor C. Anderson, the artist. Antonio S. Renza built the foundation and Grenci & Ellis furnished the granite from their Mohegan granite quarry. The bronze portrait tablet of Lincoln was the work of the Tiffany Studios in New York City. The Exedra was erected during the summer of 1925 and dedicated with fitting ceremonies on October 6, 1925. It cost $6100.85 and the work of raising the money, initiating and completing the project was done by the President of the Lincoln Society in Peekskill from 1925-1926, Chester A. Smith. The work of planning for it and finally complet-ing the payments for its erection occupied eight and one-half years.
Henry S. Fee, Peekskill’s sole surviving member of the Grand Army of the Republic, addressing the audi-ence gathered to dedicate the Lincoln Exedra on October 6, 1925. Also attending were: Thomas Nelson Jr., grandson of Congressman William Nelson, N.Y. State Assemblyman from Peekskill, James Apgar, and Mrs. Gertrude Windsor who attended the nominating convention for Lincoln at Chicago in 1860.
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2017 Lincoln Society Fund Raising Appeal
– Peekskill’s Lincoln Exedra – The Lincoln Exedra, located on South Street, near Grove Street, has fallen into disrepair. Your donation will help us restore the exedra to its former and rightful grandeur. 
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