Abraham Lincoln's Home

Abraham Lincoln lived in this charming twelve room, two story home for seventeen years, and only left when he got a new job and had to re-locate … to The White House … to become President of the United States.

Lincoln’s son, Robert Todd Lincoln, who was born in this house, donated it to the State of Illinois under the condition that it would forever be maintained, and open to the public at no charge. The National Park Service, who maintain the home, did better than that, and have also preserved a four-block area around the home with several other homes of the same era, as well as maintaining the streets and sidewalks using period materials. It truly is a step back in time to visit.

Some of the neighboring homes contain exhibits, and Lincoln’s home has been lovingly furnished and decorated.

There is a visitor’s center in front of the neighborhood which shows a film and has a little museum of Lincoln related artifacts.

You can also book a tour of the home here, or you can just wander through the pretty historic neighborhood, which has informative signs dotted throughout, and it’s all free. (you might even be greeted by a local actor portraying Lincoln, or his wife Mary Todd Lincoln, and it’s up to you to decide whether that is fabulous or a little bit creepy)

The Lincoln home and surrounding area is beautifully preserved and a must visit. The home was designated a National Historic Landmark in 1960 and listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1966. The home and its entire surrounding historic neighborhood was named a National Historic site in 1971.

PS - I promise I brushed my hair the day we visited even though our photo suggests otherwise.

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Midwest USA No. 23 - last visited October 2023