Lincoln Home
National Historic Site
Lincoln Home
National Historic Site
LINCOLN HOME NATIONAL HISTORIC SITE
Springfield,
Illinois
At the park's center stands the two-story home of Abraham Lincoln, the only home he ever owned. The home was constructed in 1839 as a one story cottage and the Lincolns lived in the house from 1844 until his election to the Presidency in 1861. The home, which has been restored to its 1860s appearance, reveals Lincoln as husband, father, politician, and President-elect. It stands in the midst of a four-block historic neighborhood which the National Park Service is restoring so that the neighborhood, like the house, will appear much as Lincoln would have remembered it.
VISITATION:
Highest April through August
Lowest November through February
MAILING ADDRESS:
Lincoln Home National Historic Site
413
South Eighth Street
Springfield, IL 62701-1905
TELEPHONE:
(217) 492-4241, ext. 221 for the Visitor Center
OPERATING HOURS, SEASONS:
The Lincoln Home Visitor Center,
located at 426 South Seventh St., is open from 8:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. daily with
extended spring, summer and fall hours. Free, Ranger-conducted tours of the
Lincoln Home occur daily with the last tour beginning one-half hour before
closing. The Site is closed on Thanksgiving, Christmas (December 25), and New
Year's (January 1).
CLIMATE:
Temperatures can range from 0 degrees Fahrenheit in the
winter to 95+ degrees in the summer. High humidity is common during the summer
months.
DIRECTIONS:
Interstate 55 provides north-south access to
Springfield:
Visitors heading south on I-55 should use exit 98B at Clear
Lake Avenue. Proceed west toward downtown and turn left on Seventh St. The
Visitor Center is located five blocks south on the left side of Seventh Street.
The visitor parking lot is past the Visitor Center on the left.
Visitors
traveling north on I-55 should use exit 92A at Sixth Street, which is Business
I-55, and proceed about four miles north to downtown. Turn right on Capitol
Avenue and right again on Seventh Street. The Visitor Center is located on the
left side of Seventh Street.
Interstate 72 provides east-west access to
Springfield:
Visitors traveling west will exit onto Clear Lake Avenue,
proceed west toward downtown and turn left on Seventh Street. The Visitor
Center is located five blocks on the left side of Seventh Street. Visitors
traveling east should use exit 97B at Sixth Street (Business I-55) and proceed
north toward downtown. Turn right on Capitol Avenue and right on Seventh
Street. The Visitor Center is located on the left side of Seventh Street.
TRANSPORTATION:
Springfield is serviced by several airlines,
Greyhound Bus Lines, and Amtrak. Taxis are available at the airport. The Amtrak
train station is located seven blocks from the Site and the Greyhound bus
station is located on the east side of the city and is not within walking
distance to the Site. Springfield is located 200 miles southwest of Chicago,
Illinois and 100 miles northeast of St. Louis, Missouri.
Private vehicles
are suggested for transportation in Springfield. Public bus transportation is
available Monday through Saturday. A trolley service to eight historic sites
and attractions is provided on a seasonal basis for a fee. Trolley tickets can
be purchased at the Visitor Center bookstore.
FEES, COSTS, RATES:
There is no admission fee to the Lincoln Home National Historic Site, but a
FREE tour ticket is required to tour the Lincoln Home. Tickets are distributed
at the Visitor Center on a first-come, first-served basis the day of the tour.
Those who wish to tour the home MUST first obtain a ticket. Each ticket
indicates a specific tour time. Donations are encouraged at either the Visitor Center or the
Lincoln Home donation box. Group tour reservations for groups larger than 15 are also free,
but require reservations through the Springfield Convention and Visitors Bureau.
See information on Reservations/Permits below.
The visitor parking lot is concession-operated from April 1 through
September 30. Parking fees are $1.50 for the first hour and 50 cents for each
additional half hour. Recreational vehicles can be accommodated, but will be
charged for the number of spaces they occupy. Parking in the lot from October 1
through March 31 is free of charge. Metered street parking and parking garages
are located nearby for a fee. There is no charge for parking at meters on
Saturdays and Sundays.
FACILITIES AND OPPORTUNITIES:
To tour the Lincoln Home, please
make the Visitor Center, located at 426 South Seventh Street, your first stop.
FREE tour tickets for the
Lincoln Home are available at the information desk.
Tickets are distributed on a first-come, first-served basis and indicate a
specific tour time. No reservations are taken in advance. We suggest arriving
early in the day to obtain tickets, as they are frequently gone by mid-afternoon
during peak visitation periods.
Visitor Center Exhibits:
The Visitor Center serves as a visitor
service facility for the Site and the City of Springfield. At the information
desk, National Park Service and Springfield Convention and Visitors Bureau staff
provide information on Lincoln Home tours and programs, area historic sites and
attractions, events, hotels, and restaurants. The lobby contains exhibits on
nearby Lincoln-related historic sites, Lincoln sculptures, and temporary
exhibits and displays. Two orientation films (twenty minutes each) are shown
continuously throughout the day in the theaters.
Dean House, Exhibits:
The exhibit, "What a
Pleasant Home
Abe Lincoln Has"; is located in the Dean House across Eighth Street from
the Lincoln Home. This exhibit explores many different aspects of the Lincoln
family's life in Springfield. Admission is free and is toured on a self-guided
basis.
Historic Neighborhood:
The National Park Service is restoring
the four-block historic neighborhood to its 1860s appearance. Visitors can see
the house exteriors by taking a self-guided neighborhood walk. Each house has a
wayside sign describing the residents and neighbors of Abraham Lincoln in 1860.
Park Rangers and costumed volunteers conduct occasional walking tours of the
neighborhood during the summer.
Programs, Activities:
Lincoln Home tours are conducted daily.
Additional interpretive programs and walks are presented throughout the year.
For up-to-date information, call the Visitor Center at (217) 492-4241, ext. 221.
Lodging and Camping Facilities:
There are no accommodations
within the Site, but Springfield offers a wide variety of hotels, motels, and
bed-and-breakfasts. Camping facilities are available in nearby state parks and
private campgrounds. We advise that you reserve your accommodations in advance.
Springfield is the State Capital and attracts numerous conventions and special
events throughout the year.
Food, Supplies:
Many local restaurants and stores are within
walking distance of the park.
Other Concessions, NPS-Managed Visitor Facilities and Opportunities:
The
not-for-profit Eastern National operates the
Visitor Center bookstore. The store offers an extensive
selection
of books,
videos, and prints with emphasis on Abraham Lincoln, the Civil War, and National
Parks. Contact the bookstore at (217) 523-0222 for information.
Accessibility:
The Visitor Center, Dean House, and first floor of the Lincoln Home are
accessible to wheelchairs. If you need assistance, please advise the staff
at the Visitor Center when you obtain a Lincoln Home tour ticket.
Wheelchairs are available for use within the Site. Accessible parking is
available in the parking lot.
Special Needs:
RECOMMENDED ACTIVITIES, PARK USE:
RESERVATIONS, PERMITS:
To make reservations for a group tour of
the Lincoln Home, contact the Springfield Convention and Visitors Bureau (SCVB)
at 800-545-7300. The SCVB schedules all adult and school groups larger than 15
desiring to visit the Lincoln Home and other historic sites in Springfield.
Many adult and school groups visit the Site in April, May, September, and
October. Planning in advance of a visit is a necessity.
Professional filming and videotaping and other special park uses may
require a permit. Contact the Branch of Ranger Activities at (217) 492-4241, ext. 240, or make a
request in writing to the Superintendent.
UPCOMING SPECIAL EVENTS AND PROGRAMS:
Interpretive events and programs are presented throughout the year. Annual
special events include Lincoln's birthday programs, the Lincoln Colloquium
and Christmas in Mr. Lincoln's Neighborhood. Details on upcoming events can
be found on the Event and Program Bulletin Board
SAFETY:
While visiting the Lincoln Home and the surrounding
historic neighborhood, you will encounter conditions that were part of everyday
life in the nineteenth century. Uneven and slippery boardwalks, walking
surfaces with loose stones, and narrow staircases are part of the historic
scene. Please watch your step to make your visit a safe one. Eighth and
Jackson Streets are closed to through traffic.
NEARBY VISITOR ATTRACTIONS:
Springfield is the capital of the
Land of Lincoln. The Springfield area has a number of
Lincoln related sites within walking distance or a short drive from
Lincoln's Home. Historic sites include the Old State Capitol, Lincoln-Herndon
Law Offices, Lincoln's Tomb, the Lincoln Depot and Lincoln's New Salem.
Contact the Springfield Convention and Visitors Bureau at 800-545-7300 for more
information on these sites and other Springfield attractions.
OTHER LINCOLN RELATED SITES CAN BE FOUND ON THE Lincoln Home Link Page.
ADDITIONAL INFORMATION:
Visit our
Question Page, write the park at Superintendent,
Lincoln Home National Historic Site, 413 South Eighth Street, Springfield, IL,
62701-1905, or call the Visitor Center at (217) 492-4241, ext.221.