How did the embalming of Abraham Lincoln affect public acceptance of the practice?

The embalming of President Abraham Lincoln was a pivotal moment in the history of American funeral practices, significantly increasing public acceptance of the procedure. During the U.S. Civil War, there was initial public resistance to the idea of "mutilating" a body for preservation. However, the government’s decision to allow undertakers to embalm soldiers so their remains could be transported home for burial helped normalize the practice.1

This acceptance grew further when the bodies of notable figures, including Lincoln’s son Willie and eventually the president himself, were embalmed. Following his assassination, Lincoln’s body was transported by train through seven states, allowing citizens to view him over an extended period. This high-profile display demonstrated the effectiveness of the technique in maintaining a lifelike appearance for public mourning, which helped transform embalming from a controversial practice into one associated with patriotic activity and standard mortuary care in the United States.12