White House Sketches
The Patient at Elberon
September 20, 1881
President James A. Garfield on his deathbed, 1881. Kiplinger Collection.
After President James A. Garfield was shot on July 2, 1881, he lived for 80 days while doctors tried to save his life. His life ended at a beach cottage at Elberon on the New Jersey shore where it was thought the sea air might help promote his recovery. Garfield’s body would be taken to the U.S. Capitol. On September 21 the coffin containing the remains of the president arrived in Washington in an elaborately decorated funeral car and was borne by an honor guard to the Capitol Rotunda. Laden with flowers and adorned with a stuffed dove of peace, more than one hundred thousand mourners viewed the open casket during the following days.