3 little known facts about the chair Abraham Lincoln was shot in

Johnson says the unthinkable happened at another famous museum along the way, as the chair was kept in a storage closet. 

"From what we understand, people who worked at the Smithsonian probably, custodians or people like that, used it as kind of a break area," Johnson says. He says this likely happened around the end of the 19th century, and that they'd sit in the chair, got lots of hair grease on it and might have even taken off pieces to keep as relics. 

2. It was used at the Ford Theatre especially for Lincoln to sit in. 

The black walnut chair with red silk fabric was part of a set, or suite, in a theatre box and was only brought out for special occasions. 

"It was kind of cushy and comfortable, and Abraham Lincoln was a fairly tall man so it was brought specially into the theatre box for him when he did attend the theatre," says Johnson. 

3. It's not covered in blood, as it appears to be. 

"There's a large black stain at the back of the chair, which everybody assumes is Lincoln's blood - absolutely not the case." Johnson says they've done some analysis on the stain and have discovered it's hair oil. 

Some of the other stains are water damage. Some spots, though hard to detect, have been determined to be blood. Though, it's not confirmed whose blood it is. 

The chair will be out of its case at the Henry Ford Museum on Wednesday, April 15, to commemorate the day of Lincoln's death. The Henry Ford Museum is offering free admission that day, also, and Greenfield Village opens for the season. 

Online: www.thehenryford.org

PHOTOS: Click through the photo gallery above for more photos of the chair and other Lincoln memorabilia