Idaho, which was created when President Abraham Lincoln established Idaho Territory on March 4, 1863; has been commemorating 150th Anniversaries connected to the national observance of the Civil War Sesquicentennial which is ending in April 2015. Unfortunately this also includes the tragic assassination of President Lincoln on April 14, 1865...a few short weeks after his Second Inauguration on March 4 and the surrender of Confederate General Robert E. Lee to Union General Ulysses Grant at Appomattox Court House on April 9, 1865. Volunteers from several historical organizations have planned three free events for April 15, 2015 and everyone is invited.

For the first event, Idahoans will join the rest of the nation in remembering the life, achievements and sacrifices of Abraham Lincoln by dedicating the 150th Anniversary of the death of our 16th President with a noon ceremony at the 100-year-old Lincoln Statue on the Capitol Mall on Wednesday, April 15. There will be an opening benediction, a wreath-laying ceremony at the foot of the statue by a color guard, remarks by David H.Leroy and state and city officials and a 21-gun salute by re-enactors in Civil War uniforms. The Lincoln Statue is located at 200 Capitol Blvd and Bannock Street in downtown Boise. For more information check out Idaho Civil War 150th Commission's website at http://idahocivilwar150thanniversary.yolasite.com/

Then, everyone is invited to a special two-hour Open House at the Idaho State Historical Archives located at 2205 Old Penitentiary Road in Boise, starting at 3:00PM in the special A.Lincoln: His Legacy to Idaho exhibit where renowned Lincoln Historian and former Lt. Governor and Attorney General David H. Leroy will lead free special tours through over 200 artifacts and historical documents that reveal significant connections between our 16th President and Idaho. A.Lincoln: His Legacy to Idaho was donated by David and Nancy Leroy in 2012 to the Idaho State Historical Society as a gift to the people of Idaho. This special Open House is free to the public. Check out: http://www.history.idaho.gov/abraham-lincoln-exhibit

Finally, at 6:30pm, Idaho Civil War 150 Commissioners and volunteers from the Civil War Round Table will be presenting a special program on "The End of the Civil War: From Appomattox to Assassination and Beyond." This multi-media special events will include a short documentary, a discussion about the Conspiracy to kill President Lincoln, and a special announcement about the IDCW150th discovery of Idaho's special link to the Hunt for John Wilkes Booth and other conspirators. Location: Main branch of the Boise Public Library at 715 S. Capitol Blvd. 

Organizations and individuals who are supporters or involved in planning this event include: David Leroy, K.C. Piccard, Frank Krone and Skip Critell, The Idaho State Historical Society, Idaho Civil War 150th Anniversary Commission, Idaho Civil War Volunteers, Boise Public Library.