Fort Douglas Museum to pay tribute to Lincoln

The Fort Douglas Military Museum will sponsor an open house and reception Saturday, Feb. 28, to honor Abraham Lincoln, who was president at the time Fort Douglas was established in 1861.

The event will be from 10 a.m. to noon and feature tours of the historic Commander's Quarters built in 1864. It will be hosted by the 3rd California Volunteers, a Civil War re-enactor fife and drum corps group associated with the museum.

Re-enactors will be in uniform and will give several traditional toasts of the period to Lincoln. A cake and punch that would have been served in the White House will be served.

The 3rd California Volunteers have been restoring the 140-year-old adobe house originally occupied by Col. Patrick Connor, who brought the 3rd California Infantry to Salt Lake City and built the fort. Connor, known as the father of Utah's mining industry, is buried in the Fort Douglas Military Cemetery.

Visitors should park around the museum and parade field and follow posted signs to the Commander's House. The museum, which normally opens at noon, will be open early for the occasion.