Lincoln Home National Historic Site (IL)
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Lincoln Home National Historic Site
Abraham Lincoln's Home
This is how the Lincoln home looked when he purchased it in 1844...he didn't waste any time starting the remodeling...
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...
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.
Dining Room
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 - 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...
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...
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
