ELI5: Explain Like I'm 5

Lincoln Catafalque

Have you ever been to a funeral or seen pictures of one? When someone important dies, like a President, they have a very special funeral that is done with a lot of respect and tradition. Part of that tradition is having a special structure called a catafalque.

The Lincoln catafalque is a specific catafalque that was made back in 1865 when President Abraham Lincoln was killed. It is the same structure that has been used at all of the funerals held in the United States Capitol for important people since then.

A catafalque is basically a fancy box that is used to hold a person's body during their funeral. It is usually made out of wood or metal and looks like a raised platform or bed. It is decorated with special things like flags and black cloth that help to show how important the person was.

The Lincoln catafalque is very special because it has a lot of history behind it. For example, it was used to hold President Lincoln's body when it was in the Capitol for people to come pay their respects after he died. It was also used to hold other important people like presidents and members of Congress when they died.

When people see the Lincoln catafalque, it reminds them of all the important people who have passed away and how much they meant to our country. It's a way to pay respect to those who have passed on and to remember their contributions to our nation. That's why it's important to keep using the Lincoln catafalque for all the special funerals that take place at the Capitol.
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