Like Lincoln, Obama Will Ride the Rails To D.C.

In February, Wilmington had the largest gathering that city officials could remember when Obama appeared at a campaign rally in the town square. "More than 20,000 people from throughout the region welcomed then-Senator Obama for what was a watershed moment in the campaign," Mayor James M. Baker said in a statement yesterday.

By stopping in Wilmington, Obama might be evoking Biden more than Lincoln, who did not make a stop there.

The last leg of Lincoln's trip began in Philadelphia. He was greeted with a fireworks display and spoke outside Independence Hall, where he declared: "I would rather be assassinated on this spot than to surrender it."

He was also photographed there -- the first-ever photograph of a president-elect, Holzer said.

From Philadelphia, Lincoln's journey took him to Harrisburg, the Pennsylvania state capital, back to Philadelphia, then on to Baltimore and Washington. Holzer noted that in Lincoln's day railroad travel was state of the art.

Although there were reports of an assassination plot in Baltimore, Holzer said Lincoln's sleeping car was drawn by horses from one station in Baltimore to another without incident. Lincoln was ridiculed by the media, however, for "sneaking" through Baltimore, and false reports circulated that he had disguised himself in a military cloak and tam, or was hiding in his luggage.

Yale historian David Blight, who suggested last month that Obama retrace Lincoln's inaugural train trip, said: "I think it's a great idea. . . . I'm amazed they're going to do it."

He noted that American history is filled with images of whistle-stop presidential candidates speaking from the back of train cars.

"In Lincoln's case, he had to sneak into Washington," Blight said. "In this case, Obama can come in triumph, one would assume."