Lincoln Home National Historic Site Map

Lincoln Home National Historic Site

Abraham Lincoln's Home

Lincoln Home (ca. 1844-1846)

This is how the Lincoln home looked when he purchased it in 1844...he didn't waste any time starting the remodeling...

Lincoln Home (ca. 1846-1854)

As you can see, Lincoln made quite a few changes the first couple years he owned the home. It wasn't until 1854, ten years after he purchased the house that he started on the improvements that resulted in the two-story structure we see today...

Lincoln Home (ca. 1855)

Lincoln Home - Sitting Room

This room just inside the entryway on the ground floor is where Lincoln and Mary entertained their guests. The children were expressly forbidden to enter this room.

Lincoln Home - Dining Room

Dining Room

Lincoln Home - Living Area

Ground floor

Lincoln Home - Ground Floor

An 1861 doorbell...call me simple but I found this to be one of the more fascinating highlights of the home:)

Lincoln Home - Guest (?) Bedroom

Lincoln Home - Lincoln's Bedroom

It was a bit crowded in Lincoln's room so this was the best shot I could get. This is the only room in the house that the wallpaper design is known to be accurate to Lincoln's time here...

Lincoln Home - Mary's Bedroom

Common for the time period, Abraham and Mary slept in separate bedrooms. According to our guide this was as much to do with Lincoln working many late nights as it was to privacy...

Lincoln Home - The Kid's Room

This is where the four Lincoln boys would spend their nights, across the hall from their parents.

Lincoln Home - Hired Girls Room

With such a busy schedule, family, and large home the Lincoln's needed some help around the house. This modest room was home to their live-in maid.

Lincoln Home - Kitchen

Back on the ground floor at the back of the home...

Lincoln Home National Historic Site

The back of the Lincoln home from the street...

Harriett Dean House (ca. 1850's)

Mrs. Dean purchased this property from Lincoln in 1850. She was a widower with only one son who lived in St. Louis, Missouri.

Henson Lyon House (ca. 1850's)

In 1860 this house was occupied by Henson Lyon and his family. Mr. Lyon at the time was a retired farmer and land speculator and was fairly wealthy.

William Beedle House (ca. 1840)

Mr. Beedle, a railroad fireman, rented this home from a Mrs. Ann Walters who owned this property as well as the adjacent house where she lived (no longer standing).

Lincoln Home National Historic Site

Empty lots like this are scattered amongst the homes of the Lincoln neighborhood. These were not vacant during Mr. Lincoln's time but rather these spaces mark the locations of structures that for what ever reason have not survived to the present day.

Julia Sprigg House (ca. 1851)

This small home was purchased by Mrs. Sprigg in 1853. Julia was a close friend of Mrs. Lincoln and occasionally she, or her daughter, babysat the Lincoln boys.

Allen Miller House (ca. 1851)

Mr. Miller, his wife Clarissa and children lived here along with Clarissa's brother and his wife. Miller was a successful leather dealer at the time who also had business in tinware and stoves. Though in beautiful condition, the house has been changed some since 1860 and the park service has plans to restore it to its original appearance.

Lincoln Home National Historic Site

Not sure the story on this...I assume it to be a replica of a unique wagon used by Lincoln during one of his campaigns. As you can see, Mr. Lincoln was not embarrassed by his humble beginnings but rather used them to relate to working-class Americans.

Jesse Dubois House (ca. 1859)

Mr. Dubois, Auditor for the State of Illinois, was a close friend of Lincoln and an important political ally. The closeness of their friendship is evidenced in Mr. Dubois naming one of his sons Abraham.

George Shutt House (ca. 1850's)

George Shutt was a young lawyer and rented this house in 1859. I'm not sure how well he and Mr. Lincoln got along as Shutt supported Stephen Douglas in his campaign against Lincoln in 1860.

Henson Robinson (ca. 1863-66)

This home technically didn't exist during Lincoln's time in Springfield. It was built by Robinson who at the time owned a business selling stoves and furnaces. During the Civil War he was also a supplier of cups and plates to Union troops.

Solomon Allen Barn (ca. 1850's)

Originally there was also a home on this property but the barn is the only thing left. In fact, according to the info plaque, this barn is the only existing outbuilding left in the neighborhood. Many of the houses in the area would have had similar structures on the property with them.

Sarah Cook House (ca. 1850's)

Mrs. Cook rented this building beginning in 1860. She sublet a couple of rooms to support herself and her kids. She also ran a photo studio out of the home.

Charles Arnold House (ca. 1830's)

Charles Arnold was one of Lincoln's important political friends. He served as County Sheriff twice for the Whig Party. Arnold lived here from 1850-1879.

Lincoln-Herndon Law Offices (ca. 1840-41)

Lincoln practiced law out of this building from 1843-1852. William H. Herndon ran the practice during Lincoln's term as congressman. The ground floor is open to the general public and has many interesting displays. To visit the second and third floors, however, you must follow the guided tour for a small fee.

Lincoln-Herndon Law Offices (ca. 1840-41)

Lincoln practiced law out of this building from 1843-1852. William H. Herndon ran the practice during Lincoln's term as congressman. The ground floor is open to the general public and has many interesting displays. To visit the second and third floors, however, you must follow the guided tour for a small fee.

Old Illinois State House (ca. 1837-40)

The Old Illinois State House served as the official state house from 1840-1876 after which it served as the Sangamon County Courthouse until 1966. Lincoln had an important role in moving the state capitol to the town of Springfield and served his final term as State Representative from 1840-41. The old capitol building is open to the public and guided tours are available for those who want a more in-depth experience.

Old Illinois State House of Representatives

A stovepipe hat signifies the place where Abraham Lincoln sat during his term here from 1840-41.

Great Western (Lincoln) Depot

Lincoln passed through this building on two important occasions. The first, on February 11, 1861, saw him leaving for an uncertain future as President of a country falling apart. The second, he returned a martyr, a savior who had successfully guided the United States through its darkest hours and paid the ultimate sacrifice for his service.

Lincoln's Tomb (ca. 1874)

On the day President Lincoln died certain Springfield residents banded together to form the National Lincoln Monument Association. Monies were gathered to provide a fitting resting place for the man who had given so much in service to his country. Lincoln, his wife Mary, and three of his four sons (Edward, Willie, & Tad) are interred here.

Lincoln's Tomb (ca. 1874)

Lincoln's Burial Room...the incription above reads "Now He Belongs to the Ages," the famous words uttered by Secretary of War William Stanton on word of Lincoln's death.

Lincoln's Tomb (ca. 1874)

Lincoln's Burial Chamber - The resting place of Lincoln's two middle sons Edward and William, both taken at very young ages.

Lincoln's Tomb (ca. 1874)

Lincoln's Burial Chamber - The resting place of Mary Todd Lincoln, wife of Abraham.

Lincoln's Tomb (ca. 1874)

Lincoln's Burial Chamber - The resting place of Lincoln's favorite son "Tad" who died at age 18 from TB.

Lincoln's Tomb (ca. 1874)

Lincoln Burial Chamber - Robert Lincoln was the only Lincoln child to survive childhood. He is recognized here but is actually buried, as indicated, at Arlington National Cemetery.

Lincoln's Tomb (ca. 1874)

On the day President Lincoln died certain Springfield residents banded together to form the National Lincoln Monument Association. Monies were gathered to provide a fitting resting place for the man who had given so much in service to his country. Lincoln, his wife Mary, and three of his four sons (Edward, Willie, & Tad) are interred here.