Abraham Lincoln’s Top Hat – 12 Things You Should Know

Abraham Lincoln is known for his many accomplishments and for being one of the greatest presidents in the world. But Lincoln is also known for his unique style of wearing tall hats. 

He wore his hat when giving speeches, during his inauguration, and on informal occasions. He was also wearing his hat on the night of his assassination.

So why was Abraham Lincoln so particular about his hat?

Here’s all you need to know about the world-famous Abraham Lincoln hat.

1. Who is Abraham Lincoln?

Abraham Lincoln was a well-known president of the United States. In 1861 United States elected Lincoln as the 16th president. Lincoln held the post until his assassination in 1865. He is well known for providing leadership to the United States during the American civil war and signing an order to abolish slavery.

His leadership also saw the modernization of the US economy and the strengthening of the US federal government.

Before entering politics, Lincoln was employed as a lawyer. Lincoln was primarily self-educated. 

Some hail him as the greatest president of all time.

2. What type of hats did Abraham Lincoln wear?

Abraham Lincoln usually wore stovepipe hats. During Lincoln’s period, the stovepipe hats were tall, with a flat brim and a flat crown. Stovepipe hats are made from stiffened felt. Lincoln also wore top hats, similar to stovepipe hats but more expensive.

Lincoln wore his hat on all occasions, whether formal or informal and had more than one hat. All his hats were about 7 to 8 inches tall and added a considerable number of inches to his already impressive height. 

3. A brief history of Abraham Lincoln’s top hat 

Abraham Lincoln wore hats long before he was elected as president. The tall top hats were an eye-catching novelty in his early political career. Lincoln’s top hats gained the attention of the public and other political figures.

In 1862, Lincoln’s son passed away from typhoid fever. Afterwards, Lincoln added a black silk mourning band to all his hats. 

During his inauguration in 1860, Lincoln wore a brand new silk plush hat. This was one of the few times Lincoln wore a new hat in public. He was always comfortable wearing his old, used hats.

By 1864 he has moved back to the stovepipe hat.

Lincoln’s tall hats did more than add a few inches to his height and store papers. In 1864, his hat saved his life. Lincoln survived an assassination attempt because the bullet went through his top hat without hitting him. 

On the night of his assassination, Lincoln wore a silk hat top hat of about 7 inches tall. This hat is now on display at the Smithsonian National Museum of American History.

4. Why did Abraham Lincoln wear a tall hat?

Abraham Lincoln had many good reasons for wearing a tall hat. Tall top hats were typical in his time, so he kept up with the trend of gentlemen wearing hats. Top hats protected him from rain and sun, added many inches to his height, and were an excellent place to keep papers and documents.

Abraham Lincoln stood at 6 ft, 4 inches tall. Lincoln still holds the record for being the tallest president of the United States. Wearing a tall hat increased his height advantage over other men. This gave him good publicity. Lincoln was always the tallest man in the room, and it was easy to spot him in a crowd. 

Abraham Lincoln also used his tall hats to store papers. He would keep documents on the lining inside his top hat. Some even claimed that Lincoln was naturally a messy person, and he used his hat similar to a briefcase. He would keep the very important documents within his hat while his office was littered with letters, papers, and briefs. 

5. How tall was Abraham Lincoln with his hat

Abraham Lincoln only wore tall hats, adding about 7 to 8 inches to his impressive height.

Lincoln stood at 6 ft 4 inches without a hat, which made him about 6 ft 11 inches to almost 7 ft when wearing a hat. And this is a very intimidating height and made him easily stand out in a crowd.

6. What does Abraham Lincoln’s hats symbolize

Top hats symbolized upper social class, authority, power, and respect. At the time, all well-respected gentlemen in the US wore top hats. Abraham Lincoln’s hat also symbolized style and elegance. However, he always preferred his familiar worn-out hats over a new hat to make him more relatable to the general population.

Abraham Lincoln was one of the central figures responsible for abolishing slavery and bringing equal respect to all social classes. So he didn’t hesitate to use his hat to show respect to all American citizens. Lincoln once took off his hat when meeting a black gentleman. He was highly criticized for his actions, but he ensured that his hat became a symbol of respecting everyone equally.

Today, we cannot imagine Abraham Lincoln without his hat. His hat is now a symbol of his outstanding leadership, guidance, and humanity. 

7. Notable facts about Abraham Lincoln’s top hats 

• Lincoln chose to wear the same hat for a long time. He preferred the look of a battered well-worn hat that made him more like a commoner. One time he wore a new hat during his inauguration.

• Lincoln usually wore stovepipe hats, but on the night of his assassination, he wore a top hat made by the J.Y.Davis, a hat Washington hat maker.

• Tall hats made Lincoln an easy target, but they also saved his life at least once.

• Lincoln stored important documents on the interior band of his hat.

• Sometimes Lincoln used his hats to express his temper and dissatisfaction. He is known to express anger by throwing his hat on the ground. 

• His top hats made Lincoln over 7 ft tall.

• In 2005, a hat claimed to belong to Lincoln fetched over 6 million USD 

8. Difference between Lincoln’s top hats and stovepipe hats

Lincoln wore both top hats and stovepipe hats. A top hat and a stovepipe hat look very similar, and the difference may not be noticeable to the untrained eye. A stovepipe hat is simply a type of top hat. 

A stovepipe hat is less expensive than a top hat and is more informal. These hats were named after their shape, which resembles a stovepipe or a chimney. Also, a stovepipe hat is taller than a usual top hat and can be around 8 to 9 inches tall.

Top hats are made with silk, authentic beaver skin, or black oilcloth coating. Top hats are expensive and suitable for all kinds of formal occasions. 

9. Where are Abraham Lincoln’s hats today?

Lincoln’s hat on the day of his assassination is up for display in Washington DC, at the Smithsonian’s national museum of American history.

After Lincoln was fatally shot, the war department took control of all the items left behind at the crime scene, including Lincoln’s top hat with a mourning band. In 1867, Lincoln’s hat was donated to the Smithsonian Institution but was not exhibited to the public. 

There was so much attention on Lincoln’s hat that the museum decided not to reveal its location to the public. They kept Lincoln’s hat in the basement for over two decades. In 1893, the hat was first open for public viewing.

10. How much is Abraham Lincoln’s hat worth today?

In 2005, Abraham Lincoln Presidential Library and Museum bought a collection of Lincoln artifacts from a private collector. The artifact collection included a hat, eyeglasses, a pen, and many other items that belonged to the late president.

Abraham Lincoln’s hat was appraised at a whooping price of 6 million USD. Although there was some controversy about the hat’s authenticity, it shows that Lincoln’s relics will still fetch a massive amount of money.

11. What hat was Lincoln wearing when he was assassinated?

On the night of his assassination, April 14th, 1865, Lincoln attended Ford theater. As usual, he was wearing a tall hat. This was a silk top hat adorned with a black mourning band in remembrance of his son. 

The top hat had a label on its interior identifying Y.J Davis as the manufacturer, but no one knew when he bought this hat or how often he wore it.

The hat fell to the ground during the shooting and was collected as evidence. Later his wife decided to donate the hat to the Smithsonian museum.

12. When were top hats popular?

Top hats, like the ones owned by Lincoln, were very famous in the 1800s and remained prominent until the 20th century.

Top hats changed in style throughout the years. During the mid-1800s, very tall top hats, also known as stovepipe hats, became the most popular type. They were prominent among all respectable gentlemen. 

Final Thoughts

Abraham Lincoln is linked with many things, his leadership during the civil war and the abolition of slavery, his speeches, his tall demeanor, and last but not least, his liking for tall top hats.

Top hats are totally out of style today, but that doesn’t undermine the importance of top hats in the 19th century.

Lincoln’s hat on the night of his assassination is one of the most important relics left behind by a US president. Abraham Lincoln’s top hat remains a captivating antique for all his admirers, and the top hat he wore on his final night is still up for viewing at the Smithsonian Museum.