Tomb Raider: President Abraham Lincoln vs. Dr. H. H. Holmes

This is the first time I'm doing a cross blog post and intertwining my Civil War blog with my Murder Castle blog. The Lincoln related information is here. To find the Holmes related information, click here: Holmes' Tomb.

I figured that instead of just writing facts about the graves of both men, I would be a little more creative and compare and contrast the tombs to see which would be harder to break into (there are pluses and minuses to each). Which do you think will prevail? Will it be the tomb of 16th President Abraham Lincoln? Or will it be the tomb of the World's Fair Serial Killer, Dr. H. H. Holmes?

DISCLAIMER:

 

THIS IS AN EDUCATIONAL (AND CREATIVE) POST DETAILING HOW THESE TWO MEN WERE BURIED. THIS DOES NOT PROMOTE GRAVE ROBBING OR BODY SNATCHING. LET THE DEAD REST IN PEACE! IF YOU DO NOT, YOUR DUMB ASS WILL BE ARRESTED AND I WILL NOT TAKE BLAME FOR YOUR STUPIDITY. YOU HAVE BEEN WARNED!

 

Now that all the bases are covered, here are the statistics regarding the burial of President Lincoln:

 

Good: We know where Abraham Lincoln is buried. (Oak Ridge Cemetery in Springfield, Illinois).

Bad: That is a huge memorial. It's really easy to see since it isn't secluded in a back corner somewhere. The exact location of it is known by a good percentage of Americans (and most likely everyone in Illinois - they don't call it the "Land of Lincoln" for nothing).

Good: The cemetery isn't open 24/7 so the crowds will have to leave at closing time.

Bad: It's freaking Abraham Lincoln. There has to be a camera or a guard somewhere around that tomb or at the front entrance. Heck, the tomb probably has it's own Secret Service branch.

Good: We know all the specifics of Lincoln's burial.

Bad: Have you read them? First you would have to find a way into the memorial. Then you would have to drill ten feet down into the marble floor to get into the concrete burial chamber. Also, not only is the crypt encased in concrete, it is also in a steel cage. You would need a jackhammer or dynamite to get through the concrete alone. And imagine the noise that will make.

Good: At least the body isn't encased in concrete like some people we know (ahem-Holmes-ahem).

Bad: Have fun getting it out of the ground without a machine (which will need to ascend the 56 stairs and fit inside the memorial) and then back out the door, down the stairs, and out of the cemetery without causing damage or attracting attention. That is if you didn't already get arrested for attempting to blow up Lincoln's tomb.

Although both men are well protected in death, I think Lincoln has Holmes beat this time. It seems that you'd attract more attention before you would even get to the memorial. In both cases you get arrested. But you'll get arrested much faster (and probably by higher level security) if you go anywhere near Lincoln's tomb after the cemetery closes. (Think of it this way. If a newspaper report was published stating that Lincoln's tomb was broken into, people would say, "Is Lincoln okay?" Attempt to dig up Holmes' grave and the question becomes, "Is the dirt okay?").

Until next time.

XOXO, Kate