Lincoln Home National Historic Site (Springfield, IL)

A few years ago my cousins and I took a road trip down Route 66. What an amazing trip – I highly recommend it! We flew from the Twin Cities to Los Angeles where we first did some sightseeing, then went to the Santa Monica Pier where Route 66 ends (yes, we drove it backwards), and then we drove towards Chicago where Route 66 technically begins. Route 66 runs through a few Midwest states (Kansas, Missouri, and Illinois), and one of our stops was in Springfield, IL at the Lincoln Home National Historic Site.

The Lincoln Home was the first and only home President Abraham Lincoln owned, and it still stands today, with much of the original structure, walls, and foundations remaining. The Lincoln Home is filled with stories and memories that tell of the Lincoln family from a young couple with a baby to a presidential family bound for the White House, as well as Lincoln’s growth from a young lawyer to the highest position in the United States.

The Lincoln Home guided tours gives visitors a look into the Lincoln family during the seventeen years they lived in the house on the corner of Eighth and Jackson Streets. Visitors will get a glimpse into Lincoln’s life as a family man, as well as explore his rise as a successful lawyer and politician through the context of the Lincoln Home.

Tickets

Entry into the Lincoln Home is only permitted through a ranger-led tour. Admission to tour the Lincoln Home is free; however, tickets are issued on a first-come, first-served basis and often fill up quickly (especially between the months of March and November) as they are limited to 15 individuals for each tour. Tickets for the tour can be picked up inside the Lincoln Home Visitor Center at the front desk for the 20–25 minute tour of the home. The first tour of the day begins at 9am, with the last tour beginning at 4:30pm. During the summer, hours may be extended.

Group Tickets

If you have a group of 15 or more, call 1-800-7300 or email GroupTours@Springfield.IL.US for information on reserving tickets.

The Lincoln Home Tour

I don’t know about you, but I love seeing old places just as they were back in their day! The Lincoln Home has been completely restored to its 1860 appearance, which is just prior to Abraham Lincoln leaving to serve as the 16th President of the United States in 1861. There is so much to see on the tour including the formal parlor, sitting room, dining room, Abraham Lincoln’s bedroom, Mary Lincoln’s bedroom, guest bedroom, children’s room, hired help’s room, and the kitchen. The tour took us through the first floor and the ranger provided so much information about the Lincoln family, and answered a lot of questions!

The house that would become the future Lincoln Home was built in 1839 for the Reverend Charles Dresser. Dresser married Abraham Lincoln and Mary Todd in 1842. When the house was completed, it stood one-and-a-half stories tall with five rooms including a sleeping loft.

In May 1844, the Lincolns purchased the Dresser home and lot for $1,500. Abraham, Mary, and Robert, born August 1, 1843, moved into the comfortable home. In 1846 the first remodeling of the home occurred, but this was not to be the last as Abraham and Mary had three more children while living in the home – Edward (“Eddie”) Baker Lincoln born March 10, 1846, William Wallace Lincoln (“Willie”) born December 21, 1850, and Thomas Lincoln (“Tad”) born April 4, 1853. Sadly, Eddie Lincoln died on February 1, 1850, from what was believed at the time to be diphtheria but was most likely pulmonary tuberculosis. Through the years the Lincolns continued to upgrade the house as the family expanded adding and moving around bedrooms, the kitchen, and parlor room. The home went from a one-and-a-half stories house to a two-story house.

The final alterations of the home took place during the latter part of 1859 and into the beginning of 1860. The backyard washing house was torn down and the woodshed was added to the existing Lincoln barn. The Lincolns continued to live in the house until departing for the White House in February 1861. The Lincolns never returned to their house on the corner of Eighth and Jackson Streets. Today, the restored house reflects the Lincoln Home of 1860.

Explore the Park – Outdoor Exhibits

Explore the area surrounding Abraham Lincoln’s home of seventeen years. As you take a self-guided stroll through the park, you’ll find outdoor exhibits introducing Lincoln’s neighbors and what daily life was like in 1860s Springfield. The exhibits include:

• The Arnold House: Charles Arnold resided in the house from 1850 until 1879. Arnold was a political ally of Abraham Lincoln, both being members of the Whig party. He served twice as the County Sheriff on the Whig Ticket. Today, the house is open to the public with exhibits highlighting the historic preservation in the park.
• The Beedle House: Built around 1840-41, and by 1860 the house was rented by William Beedle, a railroad fireman.
• The Cook House: In 1860 and 1861, Mrs. Sarah Cook rented the property. A widow with a number of children, Mrs. Cook rented some of the rooms in the house. Earlier, Mrs. Cook had operated a photographic studio in Springfield. The house passed through numerous owners before being acquired by the National Park Service.
• The Corneau House: Charles Corneau purchased the house in 1855 and owned the house until his death in 1860. While he lived in Springfield, Corneau was a druggist in partnership with Roland Diller. The Lincoln family frequented the Corneau and Diller Drug Store and obtained medicine there. Corneau was most likely acquainted with Lincoln politically since they were both members of the Whig party.
• The Dean House: Constructed in the 1850s, the Dean House was owned and occupied by Harriet Dean and then her son, Frederick Dean, by 1860. Mrs. Dean was involved in teaching and gardening. Today, the first floor of the Dean House is open to the public, with exhibits about the Lincoln Home and the Lincoln family.
• Heirloom Garden: Located behind the Dean House on its western side, the heirloom garden gives visitors an idea of what types of foods were grown and eaten in the 1860s. In the summer, visitors can see the garden in full bloom and talk with local gardening volunteers who maintain the heirloom garden.
• The Dubois House: Jesse K. Dubois was one of the most important political allies of Abraham Lincoln within the neighborhood. Dubois was a confidant of Lincoln, and a powerful Republican politician and officeholder. The Lincoln and Dubois families moved in the same social circles, and the Dubois’ named one of their sons after Lincoln.
• Jameson Jenkins Lot: In the late 1840s, Jameson Jenkins purchased the Jenkins lot and the home at the site. Mr. Jenkins was a drayman, transporting goods and providing transportation services. The day Lincoln left for Washington D.C., it was Mr. Jenkins who gave Lincoln a ride to the Great Western Depot. Mr. Jenkins was also a conductor of the Underground Railroad.
• The Miller Home: The Miller House was built circa 1855. In 1860 a prosperous leather dealer, Allen Miller, his wife, and three children lived in the house, along with James and Miranda Keys and Josephine Miers.
• The Morse House: The two-story frame Morse House was built around 1855. It was the home of Mr. James Morse and family from 1855-1880. The house was modified several times.
• The Rosenwald House: Julius Rosenwald lived in this house as a boy between 1869 and 1879. Rosenwald is best known as being a part-owner, vice president, and later president of Sears, Roebuck, and Company, and for the Rosenwald Fund which donated millions to support the education of African Americans, as well as other philanthropic causes in the first half of the 20th century. Rosenwald helped rural African American communities in the South build what came to be called “Rosenwald Schools.” By 1932, 600,000 African American children benefited from the more than five thousand Rosenwald schools and related facilities throughout fifteen southern states.
• The Robinson House: The original Robinson house was built around 1859-60, and significantly altered in 1863. This house belonged to Henson Robinson, a Springfield businessman and civic leader. Mr. Robinson was a partner in a Springfield business which sold stoves, furnaces, and other tin ware, and the business manufactured cups and plates for soldiers during the Civil War. Robinson and his wife had five children during the time they lived here.
• The Shutt House: The Shutt House was built prior to 1859, the house was rented to lawyer George Shutt in 1860. This young lawyer was active in politics of the Democratic party, unlike most of Abraham Lincoln’s politically active neighbors. Shutt supported Stephen A. Douglas in the presidential Campaign of 1860.
• The Sprigg House: Mrs. Julia Sprigg, a widow, purchased the home in 1853 for herself and her children. While living in the house, Mrs. Sprigg became close friends with neighbor Mary Lincoln. The Lincolns’ youngest son, Tad, was a frequent visitor to the Sprigg house, and Mrs. Sprigg’s daughter cared for the Lincoln’s sons. Mrs. Sprigg later corresponded with Mary in the White House.

Film Presentations

Lincoln Home National Historic Site offers visitors the opportunity to watch multiple interpretive films for free inside the Lincoln Home Visitor Center. Films play daily on the hour and half-hour. The first showing of the film is at 9am and the last is at 4:30pm.

A theatrical documentary produced for Lincoln Home National Historic Site, Abraham Lincoln: A Journey to Greatness, brings history to life. Join Lincoln on his dramatic journey from Springfield, Illinois to the White House.

Living History Demonstrations

Lincoln Home National Historic Site offers special events and programs to the public throughout the year. During Living History demonstrations, Living History reenactors dress in period clothing, perform historical demonstrations such as laundry and toy demonstrations, answer visitor questions, and lead other interpretive programs and activities.

Parking Fees

There is a fee to park in the Lincoln Home National Historic Site parking lot, which is $2 per hour per vehicle. Parking can be paid for at the Visitor Center front desk. Visitors are asked to please pay with credit or debit card as they do not accept cash.

Accessibility

Lincoln Home National Historic Site is dedicated to providing opportunities for visitors with disabilities by offering a wide range of media and programs that are accessible. This includes:

• Wheelchairs, assisted listening devices, sensory kit, foreign language and Braille tour booklets available for checkout at Visitor Center front desk
• Wheelchair access to the first floor of the Lincoln Home, Arnold House, and Dean House via wheelchair lifts and ramps
• Sensory/tactile Lincoln Home tour book available for checkout
• Open captioned and audio described park films, located in the Visitor Center
• Process to request a sign language interpreter
• Open captioned and audio described park films, located in the Visitor Center
• Tactile exhibits
• Audio navigation aid through the site via the Aware app
• Foreign language subtitled Lincoln Home tour videos

Springfield, IL is where Abraham Lincoln came of age while living and working as a private citizen. It was here that he chose to settle down and build a life for himself and his family. At the same time, many of Lincoln’s social and political beliefs were formed while he lived in the house at Eighth and Jackson Streets.

If you enjoy history and actually seeing homes and exhibits from the past, I encourage you to check out the Lincoln Home Nation Historic Site in Springfield, IL! Enjoy!