This is a wonderful and stunning shrine to Lincoln, our Civil War heroes, and the abolitionists who worked tirelessly to abolish slavery in the American South. The building is stunning and the displays are pure art. The docents are incredibly knowledgeable and provide you with an abundance of information. My only complaint is that the exterior of this beautiful shrine is marred by ugly QR code banners which make it impossible to take a good photo of the exterior. I also hope they remove 'The 1619 Project' from its prominent display as it has been widely discredited and is a real insult to the 360,000 Union Soldiers who sacrificed their lives - as did Lincoln - to eradicate slavery from our country. read more

Very interesting and somber place. Thd building and its details are beautiful. The young man working there was very nice and he explained the layout of the museum and offered us resources and help along the self guided tour. It's a small museum with three separate rooms. There's a fun Morse code activity and some paper and colors to draw with. I'd say it's a place for fifth graders and up. Museum is free but please consider donating or buying from their gift shop to help keep funding places like these. read more

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Very educational and fun to visit and learn at the same time. This place is great I recommend it to all age groups read more

Interesting. Exceeded my expectations. Lots of cool stuff in there. Even information about the Masonic Lodge, if you're into that sort of stuff. read more

I was not expecting such a rich collection at this little museum that seems out of nowhere. The displays was thoughtfully organized. The staff is really nice and they include very knowledgeable volunteers. The surrounding lawns are very peaceful as well. Worth the visit. read more

Great museum to check out in downtown Redlands dedicated to Abraham Lincoln. Why here? Because its founder, Robert Watchorn, a wealthy man of this area was a great admirer of the President. By visiting this free museum, you learn about Lincoln, his life and legacy (there are many interesting personal objects on display) and also about Redlands area and its history. This is a nice activity if you have 30-50 minutes at your disposal and need an acitivity on the education side. The museum is closed on Mondays, otherwise open every day from 1 pm to 5 pm. I loved the exterior of the building, very elegant and classy. The interior is nice, well preserved and decorated. Very nice staff. The place isn't big, but it is full of information and great memorabilia, you'll surely learn something about the Civil War era and not only before leaving here. Lincoln Memorial is easy to find, right next to the Public Library. It is worth a visit! read more

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Wonderful experience. The slavery section was very sobering and made me cry. It was beautifully honoring. Everyone should visit to get a sense of the reality and tragedy that it really was. The Lincoln section was impressive. Lots of information. They also have so much memorabilia and artifacts. I loved the little store too. They have some fun trinkets. My kids got a cool cannon pencil sharpener. We had fun with the morse code machine. The place is beautiful and well taken care of. Really honors the memories of the past. read more

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Great free museum exhibit ! Truly a testament to Lincoln's history and legacy. There's a lot of interesting and in depth information, artifacts, photos from the Civil War, sculptures, a library, a small gift shop, and even interactive exhibits (photo with Mr. Lincoln & the telegraph machine). Definitely worth a stop if you haven't been and you're in the area. read more

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A wonderful place to learn, rediscover, and understand how President Lincoln's career continues to impact our history. Be warned this place does a great job in bringing to life slavery and Native American strife during the Civil War. read more

I thought Great Moments With Mr. Lincoln was the only shrine in California to president Lincoln, but no! This is an actual shrine built for the love of Lincoln! Honestly was checking out the area and wondered in here and was amazed by the beauty of the interior and exterior! If you're a Lincoln-Stan or just curious about that time period this shrine is a nice little summary of it all. Saw a few artifacts, read some touching stories about the civil war, etc. The town of Redlands surprises me every time I visit! Check for hours of operation and I can tell you they're open on Sunday's! read more

I had no idea this was behind the library! The exterior of the building has writing on the walls and there is a fountain in front. Once you enter you can't help but notice the ceiling! Impressive! The shrine is small but there is more than enough to see. A slavery exhibit space to the right and a Lincoln exhibit to the left. I appreciated the timeline on the wall. Great place to visit if you are in Redlands. read more

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The 2023 Lincoln Birthday celebration was as big as ever at the Lincoln Memorial Shrine in Redlands, CA. They had Robert Broski in his full Lincoln attire and another gentleman in the garb of Ulysses S. Grant taking photos and glad handing visitors. The LMS also had live fire cannon demonstrations, Civil War reenactors milling about, many booths about various Civil War topics. My husband picked up some books for two dollars a throw and my son now has enough plastic Civil War soldiers to reenact Gettysburg. All in all a good day. read more

Came here for a homeschool field trip for my 2 high school kids. It was helpful for them to tie together the events of the Civil War and Lincoln's life. My two younger kids, ages 11 and 7, were a bit bored though--I would recommend it for high school age and up. My younger ones did like using the telegraph machines and practicing Morse code. The museum is very small--only 3 rooms, and one of the rooms is primarily dedicated to the history of the development of the museum itself. It took us about an hour to do a thorough survey of the museum. It's a nice educational resource to have available in Southern California, and it's free admission! read more

The beautiful Lincoln Memorial Shrine, located in Redlands,California. The Lincoln Memorial Shrine was the philanthropic work of Robert Watchorn in memory of his son Ewart who lost his life fighting in battle for The United States of America during World War l. Mr Watchorn admired President Abraham Lincoln and said of Lincoln "He is one of the finest spirits that came into the world...and he turned the currents of freedom into the souls of millions of people" The Lincoln Memorial Shrine is a stunning location to experience and explore Mr Lincoln and civil war history! . . . . . #lincolnmemorialshrine #abrahamlincoln #redlandscalifornia #robertwatchorn #ewartwatchorn #lincolnmemorial #familyfriendly #greatpresident #worldwar1 #seetheusa #waynesalvatti #ricohthetaz1 #360photography #family #godisgood #biolacollege #unionrescuemission #bibleinstituteoflosangeles #ptgui #ricohthetaz360 #vinestreet #civilwar read more

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Redlands, California An interesting hidden gem in... of all places... Redlands. This small museum has many artifacts and is a museum opposed to some shrine where people are idolized. Artifacts are periodically moved/replaced due to space. The curators mentioned they have twice as much stuff but can't lay them all out properly. President Lincoln had many memorable quotes and you can see them on the ceiling throughout the exhibit. There are sections dedicated to his upbringing, career, education, failures, goal of emancipation that began before his political career and so on. I am surprised they didn't have any section dedicated to why or how he was murdered. Warning: Some pictures taken might be offensive. Access/Roads: A Paved near DT Redlands. Parking: A Plenty with a private lot. Distance: A About 60 miles east of Los Angeles. Costs: A Free i would like to return when they change exhibits to see more of what they have to offer. It's still a sight to behold for any historian and civil war buff. There isn't much dedicated to ethnic freedoms and all that and that's ok. We have plenty museums around the country that focus on solely civil rights. Safe travelings. read more

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Located in Redlands Smiley Park . I found free parking nearby and it was free to enter, donations welcome .There were lots of interesting artifacts.They covered Lincoln's life from his beginnings to his time in office. One of the museum's friendly docents greeted me and unobtrusively gave me more information. It was nice to learn that the displays aren't static making it a different museum experience each time. Depending on how much you observe it took about 45 minutes to an hour to see everything.There were photo opportunities throughout the museum. A Norman Rockwell painting was on display . Many of the artifacts are one of a kind like an actual surviving biscuit over 100 years old (Civil war MRE meal for those that know )that was part of a soldier's provisions . My new Lincoln fact: The summation of Lincoln's education was the equivalent of one semester. Beyond that he was self taught . Lincoln had a good memory and could quote both the Bible and Shakespeare. Good for kids around 8 and up and adults alike . read more

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Great place to see everything Abraham Lincoln. A lot of books on Abraham Lincoln in this building. Also has some memorabilia from the AL era. Nice to visit if you enjoy history and learning about the man. read more

The Lincoln Memorial Shrine offers a wonderful opportunity to learn more about the life and times of our 16th president. The exhibits are attractively displayed, and are provided with sufficient supporting information to put the artifacts into proper historical context. As a plus, it is located in a lovely little park. We are looking forward to our next visit in the near future. read more

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Downtown Redlands has a Lincoln Memorial Shrine that holds a lot of history, family pieces, pictures etc...but from now until December they also have a talking, animated President. It Reminded me of the old show of him st Disneyland when I was a kid. Great and inexpensive place for kids to learn about Lincoln. read more

Great little museum with a lot more information on both Lincoln and the Civil War than I expected. My husband and I loved using the Morse Code telegraph machines. read more

Really, all I need to say is "WOW". I have known about the Lincoln Memorial Shrine for years and I used to live nearby, but never visited. For some reason, I just pictured a statue of Lincoln or something. I had no idea it was such an amazing and comprehensive museum! When you enter the shrine you are in a small rotunda and they have docents there that can answer questions, show you around and point out things not to miss. The rotunda has amazing acoustics due to it's shape and you can stand in the middle and your voice sounds like it's coming from an amplifier or you can stand on one side and whisper and someone on the other side can hear! It's phenomenal! There are two wings on each side of the rotunda and I don't mean to make it sound like this place is big, but there is a lot packed in. Currently, on one side they have a focus on 1864 and the other side is focused on 1863 and next year they will update the 1863 to 1865, that way the exhibits are rotated regularly and you can see new things! Of course the 1864 room had a lot of focus on the election of that year, but the exhibits, while mostly about Lincoln also display what else was happening then, of course the civil war at that time. In the 1863 exhibit, there were a lot of displays about Civil War battles and of course displays about the Gettysburg address. They also have a really amazing Norman Rockwell painting which I am to understand was donated by Rockwell himself. It's called The Long Shadow of Lincoln and it's very large and moving. It's considered to be extremely valuable and worth seeing, especially for Rockwell fans. This is a museum well worth visiting. I was surprised and delighted to find a museum dedicated to Lincoln and the 1800s right here in Redlands. It's something you expect to find on the east coast, but not in California. If you have the chance, you should visit. Set aside enough time to truly appreciate everything there. There are no reproductions. The signed documents are real, the books are from the 1800s, there are models modernly created, but overall, these are genuine items that Lincoln (and others of the era) signed, touched, etc. I am looking forward to taking others to see the Lincoln Memorial Shrine. read more

A great gem out in Redlands, a must see if you are a history buff and for anyone who wants to learn more about Lincoln or the Civil War if you are out in the area. The Lincoln Memorial Shrine is right behind the AK Smiley Public Library. The library itself is also another architecture gem but I'll save that for the review on the AK Smiley Public Library. The building is not very big but one could spend a few hours in there looking through all the displays of artifacts, videos, and talking with the staff. The staff was so friendly! He kept telling us more in-depth/background information. While the museum is free, they do have a donation box in front of the volunteer desk. read more

Who would have guessed there was a civil war memorial in the Inland Empire? Admission is free but there is a donation box in the front. The shrine is filled from floor to ceiling with Civil War artifacts and memorabilia. The beautiful displays were all amazingly well thought out. Being here brought back memories of my high school days. It was fun seeing enlarged pictures from my old AP US History textbook up on the walls. The two guys that work the front are amazingly sweet. They are so eager to talk to you about the exhibits and the civil war in general. The LIncoln Memorial Shrine was a lot of fun. read more

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Friendly Staff, Informative Staff, and Beautiful and Rare Artifacts. I sell houses in Redlands, and Now I have another Perk to tell my clients about living in the 92373! I can't believe they had a Lock of One Of, if Not THE Most Famous Man in American History's Hair right there at the location. Authentic letters, and a Real Pair of Slavery Day Artifacts, Plus Much Much More! It's More than worth a Visit! Drop By. Also they run on donations only, so feel free to be giving, it's a Great Cause, but don't worry if you are broke lol. read more

Took a group of students to the Lincoln Memorial Shrine today. Kid friendly, excellent information pictures and period specific displays. The Civil War era memorabilia was fabulous, the timeline and the animatronics provided by Garner Holt industries was fabulous. A must see before it moves on March 31st. read more

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This shrine to one of our greatest presidents is definitely a must-see if you are a fan of President Lincoln. The shrine is relatively small, just a few rooms of artifacts & other historical documents, but what it lacks in size it makes up for in emotional content. I suppose it's no surprise that Redlands is home to this homage to the president since the city is a bastion of Republicanism. read more

Excellently curated museum! The docents there are very knowledgeable and will answer questions very patiently. Do not skip the abstract painting of Lincoln and of course the beautiful Rockwell painting. I will be back to share this place with my family. read more

This is a great Lincoln Memorial and good background on the civil war. It's free which is awesome. The place is relatively small so expect to spend about an hour or less here. read more

Lincoln Memorial Shrine - Landmarks & Historical Buildings Near Me - Redlands, California

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The Lincoln Memorial Shrine in Redlands, CA is an unexpected gem. Outside of Kentucky, Illinois and Washington D.C. you don't find many museums that are solely dedicated to Abraham Lincoln. While most of the displays center around the Civil War and heavily favor Ulysses S. Grant and other prominent Union commanders there is enough there to give a feel of who Abraham Lincoln was and the struggle that defined his presidency and saved our nation. The Lincoln Memorial Shrine has an extensive collection of books about Lincoln and the Civil War some of which are very old and first editions. The artifacts are few. The collection features two Union uniforms, medical kit, arms and ammunition. There are two items, which are the centerpieces of the collection, a Civil War era quilt patchwork quilt that had been sewn together and signed by ladies whose husbands were away fighting the war and an original Norman Rockwell painting titled "Thoughts on Peace on Lincoln's Birthday". I've never seen an original Norman Rockwell and this one was stunning and emotionally powerful. The painting depicts a wounded soldier whose leg has been amputated and who is reading, in the final year of World War II, a biography on the life of Lincoln. Surrounding the soldier are images representing the blessings of liberty Lincoln helped secure. Among the vignettes is the same soldier holding in his hands blueprints later in his life. The Saturday Evening Post commissioned the painting and finished in 1945 afterward it was donated to the shrine by Norman Rockwell himself. The Lincoln Memorial Shrine is not very large and doesn't take more than an hour or two if you're very studious to take in. If you are a history buff or have affection for Abraham Lincoln this is must see. The exhibits will be updated in February 2015 so now is a great time to visit. read more

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Plunk down in the heart of Redlands is the most unlikely of museums dedicated to Abraham Lincoln. It's in a stately stone octagonal building with quotes engraved into the sides that you might find in Washington DC. If you haven't been here, you need to spend an afternoon. First off, it's free. Secondly, there's nothing else like it anywhere nearby. It's not a big place, but it is chock full of information. You'll learn all kinds of new interesting facts about Abraham Lincoln, the Civil War, and about life in the 1860's that you never knew before. There's plenty of real artifacts on display, and they've done a very good job of having modern touch screens and videos giving even more information. The dedicated staff take the time to explain things to you so that you can explore on your own. It's not big, so you aren't going to get lost or anything. This museum is perfect for history buffs, school children, civil war enthusiasts, and anyone who wants to be entertained for an afternoon. Check it out! read more

Unbeknown to me the city of Redlands has a Lincoln Memorial. Why you might ask? I know I did when I went this past Saturday thanks to my friend Z. According to the Shrine website, a philanthropist named Robert Watchorn was an admirer of the city of Redlands and of President Lincoln whose ideals of the American dream lead Mr. Watchorn to rise from poverty to become wealthy. In order to memorialize their son, Emory who passed at a young age, the Watchorns decided on building the Lincoln Memorial Shrine in the city of Redlands. The Shrine is chocked full of Lincoln and Civil War artifacts that give a glimpse into the life of the man and the war. Although it isn't very hands on, so the little ones may need help understand the magnitude of it all, the displays were awesome at showing some of the day to day that Civil War soldiers went through. My favorite was the 130 years+ ration biscuit. My friend Z said it looked like the same kind he had to eat during his time in the service. Yet the crowning jewel of the Shrine is an original Norman Rockwell painting, "The Long Shadow of Lincoln", which appeared in a story in the February 10, 1945 issue of The Saturday Evening Post. According to a volunteer/employee we spoke to during our visit, Steven Spielberg has tried to purchase this painting from the city with no luck. The Shrine is a must for anyone in the area to gain insight into a tumultuous period in US history. read more

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Great place for Lincoln fans and history. Lots of books and some great artifacts. Also has Civil War artifacts and information on the founder of the memorial. It takes about an hour to see and read everything. read more

I wanted to visit the Library and have lunch. I used my emap and found out there is a Lincoln memorial next door. I could not believe I never knew of it! Walked in and the two guys at the front were great. Spoke to us in detail about the historic value. There is actually a $50,000,000 Norman Rockwell original oil painting displayed... wow! There were important things I didn't know about Lincoln... but I know it now. Did you know: John Wilkes Booth's brother saved the life of Lincoln's son. Now you do. read more

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Lincoln's hair! The wreath from his casket! War info. and surgeon's kits! This is a pretty neat little place. It would be great for anyone who loves Lincoln (duh), or the Civil War. I enjoyed my time here. read more

Great find in Redlands. A must see if your in the Redlands area. Lots of artifacts. An original Rockwell was the highlight. The caretakers were very nice and knowledgeable. read more

The Lincoln Shrine in Redlands was a real surprise for me. My childhood was spent 15 miles away and I never knew about this Museum / Shrine. Wow! It is very high grade. First the building is a nice granite edifice with carved quotes from Mr. Lincoln all around. The staff is a group of dedicated volunteers that have made this free museum into a showcase of history. There is an original Norman Rockwell inside as well. The interior is spacious and the displays are thoughtful. The only thing I needed was more time to study and read all the displays. This is worth a stop and State Street, a short walk away has many choices for lunch. I hope to return and examine the treasures on display in this facility soon. read more

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A very interesting stop in Redlands, Ca. The small museum facility is beautiful, yet the displays are meager in quality and amount. If you attend an event at the shrine, you may hear the director or other curator speak of Lincoln and his accomplishments, mixed in with their own pontification of how important they themselves are. In other words, beware going during Lincoln's birthday or holiday as you will be sidelined from your desire to know more about our 16th President. read more

As a teacher, history buff, and humanist, I am so thankful that this gem of a place dedicated to Abraham Lincoln is located on the West coast! Growing up in the Midwest, my family frequented many places that reminded our generation of Lincoln's legacy (museums, Civil War battle fields, presidential homes and libraries, etc.). However, to find such treasures on the West coast is a rarity. For this reason, I was delighted to find this treasure of a place in Redlands, CA. I have lived out in CA for 5 years, but only now heard about this place. It is the largest museum/archives in honor of Lincoln west of the Mississippi-how cool! To start, the history of the origins of the museum is quite interesting (Why in Redlands of all places? Well, go visit to find out!). The museum is basically three rooms, of varied exhibits outlining pieces of the Civil War, and Lincoln's role in it. There are also small, random items, such as Mary Lincoln's hair! The crown jewel of the museum, in my opinion, is a beautifully symbolic painting by Norman Rockwell called "The Long Shadow of Lincoln." To me, this itself would have made the visit worthwhile. Also, a big plus is that it is FREE. Bring the kids, and expose them a little bit to Lincoln, and his relevance today. Secondly, the guides/docents were really great. One gentleman in particular was kind, and exuded enthusiasm about Lincoln. Thank you! Finally, Redlands is a cute little area. Make a day out of it, check out the library nearby, inquire about the archives, catch a bite to eat in the cute downtown, or go to the tasting room at Hangar 24 Brewery, a short drive away. :) Thanks, Lincoln Memorial Shrine for bringing a piece of Lincoln to the West coast! read more

Absolutely excellent. The staff and docents were so friendly and informative. Truly professional and gracious with their time. I can't stress what a tremendously excellent Jewel of Redlands this Lincoln Memorial Shrine is. If you have the chance to visit I highly recommend it. read more

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Saturday 12-28-2012 I visited the LMS on a charming day trip to Redlands (Kimberly Clark House + LMS took about 5 hours with 2 hrs travel time round-trip from Pasadena). LMS is a precious, well-kept secret that deserves to be more well-known. The original building is a gorgeous octagon, with beautiful murals, c.1930. The focus of the room is a marble bust of Lincoln that reads {paraphrase} "In death, he still speaks." How true! There are two added rooms on each side of the building that contain all sorts of Lincoln and Civil War memorabilia - including strands of Lincoln's hair (those Victorians!), hand-written letters, battle flags, etc. Only about 30% of the items in the collection are on display at any time, so return visits would be worthwhile as the exhibits change. Admission is free, so please, add your donation to the box. As for the docent? A lovely man! I do not know his name (blond, short hair, former Air Force), but he is very knowledgable, enthusiastic, kind, and funny. He's a great ambassador for the LMS. Take half a day and visit the LMS - you'll be glad you did. p.s. Be sure to see the original Rockwell painting, "The Long Shadow of Lincoln" for a surprisingly modern post-WWII take on Lincoln's ideals. read more