Historic Lincoln Flag Displays at NYC Steakhouse

A unique flag, once draped over Abraham Lincoln’s coffin during his funeral, has found a new location at a steakhouse in midtown Manhattan.

Keene’s Steakhouse, which boasts 141 years of history and a vast collection of Americana, revealed this significant $500,000 find during a private event on Thursday.

Julia Lisowski, the general manager, shared her excitement about the flag, which played a part in Lincoln’s funeral procession in 1865. “This is a really special and wonderful piece of history and we are so honored to be here,” she noted.

The 37 American flags, recognized as the only remaining coffin flags from Lincoln’s funeral train as it traveled from Washington, D.C., to Springfield, Illinois, will be permanently displayed in the Lincoln Room of the restaurant. This area showcases various presidential artifacts, all while patrons enjoy mutton chops and porterhouse steaks.

Lisowski described the flag’s return to New York as a coming home of sorts. Originally made by Annin & Company, a prominent flag manufacturer based in New York, this flag was part of a 1,600-mile funeral train journey that traversed numerous towns, including a passage by Manhattan’s City Hall.

Known as the Applegate Flag, its lineage is traced back through the family of military doctor Louis Applegate for over 150 years. It was first given to Applegate by Senator Edwin D. Morgan, one of the few senators who rode the funeral train, according to Lisowski.

The flag left the Applegate family in 1977 before changing hands a couple of times. It was eventually donated to the Museum of Southern History in Jacksonville, Florida in 1996. Interestingly, it was rediscovered during an inventory in 2023, hidden in a “dark hallway behind a bookshelf.”

At around the same time, ownership of Keene’s also transitioned. Notably, billionaire Tilman Fertitta acquired the steakhouse for $30 million.

Lisowski referred to the addition of this flag during an auction by Guernsey’s in 2024 as “kismet.” Fertitta, known for his ventures like Rainforest Cafe and Bubba Gump Shrimp, purchased the flag for $525,000.

Yet, it took several months to properly restore the artifact, which underwent a month-long process at the Textile Preservation Institute of St. John the Divine. Marlene Eidelheit, the institute’s director, mentioned that while the flag had some tears and stains, it was in relatively good condition for a relic from that era.

The flag is now part of a collection of Lincoln artifacts at Keene’s, which includes political cartoons and famous letters, like one from Lincoln to a widow whose five sons perished in the Civil War. Additionally, there’s a framed program linked to Lincoln’s assassination by John Wilkes Booth at Ford’s Theater.

This flag marks both the first addition of the 21st century to the Lincoln Room and the latest acquisition since at least the 1950s.

“Guests come to Keene’s not just to eat, but to experience history, and the 1865 Abraham Lincoln Coffin Flag is among the most meaningful artifacts we’ve ever displayed,” Lisowski stated. “Keene’s has always been a custodian of American history. Welcoming this remarkable piece allows us to honor President Lincoln’s legacy in a deeply significant way.”