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October 2023 by Helene S.
Husband, father, lawyer, US Representative, President of the United States. So interesting to visit the only home that President Abraham Lincoln ever owned. The home was bought by Lincoln and his wife in 1844. As he became more successful reflecting the American Dream that he embodied, he expanded his family and his home. Three of his four sons were born in this home. One died here. As he became more affluent, he was able to add a second story to the home. He also renovated the kitchen in anticipation of moving back to Springfield after the end of his presidency. His assassination ended the dream for a hometown retirement. Today, tours explore the home and lives of Abraham Lincoln and his young family. A NPS Ranger guides small groups through the formal parlor, the sitting room, the dining room, bedrooms and the kitchen. Mary Todd and Abraham Lincoln had separate bedrooms which was fashionable and a sign of success achieved. Surprised at how small Lincoln's desk in the corner of his bed was considering his height of 6'4". After Lincoln's assassination, the home was rented to tenants who often charged fees to visit the home. They also left the home in disrepair. In 1887, Lincoln's only surviving son, Robert Todd Lincoln, donated the family home to the state of Illinois with the stipulation that it be open and free for all to visit and that it be well maintained. It was restored to its 1860 appearance when the Lincoln's left to go to the White House. Time tour tickets are available on a first come, first served basis at the Ranger Station. Tickets are free. Such an interesting and sad part of our nation's history.
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August 2023 by Eric S.
awsome place..With this visit we hit the Lincoln tri-fecta we went to birth place boyhood home and birthplace. At least with this one there was a lot more to see ad we got our passport stamp as well.
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August 2023 by Bob M.
What a awesome day we had taking our grandkids to the Lincoln sights! Remarkable place and the park rangers made it fun and informative!
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July 2023 by Lauren S.
Wonderful place to visit. We had an excellent tour guide and it was so neat to see Lincoln's home and possessions. They do a great job. There is also a very comprehensive gift/book shop in the Visitor Center that you must check out!
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July 2023 by Craig H.
Craig Hockenberry The one and old Abe Lincoln Home in Springfield, Illinois. The entire block and home are protected and preserved. I also went to his tomb and burial chambers. What a great job the national parks do making this a special place. Craig Hockenberry
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June 2023 by Michelle R.
You can't beat the price!! (free). We came on a rainy day in March and parked in a side street for free. I assume that the tour would have been held outside to talk about the Lincoln family, but since it was raining, most of it was done inside. The Historic site tried to keep the Lincoln home true to details. Overall, its worth a stop and to say you've been there.
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May 2023 by Bob L.
Not only have they preserved the Lincoln Home (the only home he ever owned) but also a two-block area serving as a replica of the entire neighborhood as it stood in Lincoln's time. Walking up and down the street was really like using a time machine. Many authentic artifacts/furniture from Lincoln's time are displayed in the home.The Lincoln Home itself is available by guided tour only (and free!) whereas the neighborhood overall is self-guided including two other homes which you can enter. Be sure to get your tickets at the Visitors Center counter to reserve your spot for the Home tour.
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May 2023 by Martin M.
she was cute enough. it just didn't feel like anything outstanding. almost every house in Savannah looks like this. cool to find out Lincoln holds a wrestling world record and was a crazy cat dad. like you go mr. Lincoln. seemed like a fun guy. it was also cute that they kept a couple block radius around the house as accurate as possible. a cool thing to see, but not show stopping
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May 2023 by Jesse Coulter
The first stop to make before visiting President Lincoln’s home. Staff was great to help the kids earn their Junior Ranger badges.
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May 2023 by Bob R.
The Lincoln Home National Historic Site was the first stop on our "Lincoln weekend" in Springfield. While born in Kentucky, Abe Lincoln moved to Illinois while young with his family. The home still stands, although much of it was restored and repaired. They did a fantastic job of finding period-specific furniture and furnishings based on drawings and photos.You start in their welcome center/gift shop. There is a brief presentation before you set out to see the house. It was a rainy day, but we did not let them stop us. The attached photos do the house justice, so I won't go into much more detail about what we saw. I already said I was impressed with the restoration and furnishings. Much of my comments are represented in the photos.This home is only a part of a restored neighborhood of homes. These were the homes of Lincoln's friends and neighbors. Many are open to the public. Because of the weather, we chose to defer this part until our next visit.This is a must-see for Lincoln fans and historians. It was well worth the price of entry (free).
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May 2023 by Douglas B.
A nice site to visit. They accommodate wheelchair users with a lift to the first floor of the house. The tour was interesting, although brief. That is probably because of the numbers of people visiting.The pathway to the home from the visitor center and the neighborhood was down the hard packed gravel street which could be difficult for some wheelchair users. The boardwalk sidewalks are not accessible (no curb cuts). Two of the other homes are wheelchair accessible and the display about renovation of historic properties was nicely presented. Parking lot has handicapped spaces - plantings are in need of some attention & weeding.Overall, a great historic site.
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April 2023 by Michelle L.
We arrived here just before 11 on a Friday morning. The information desk was able to put us on the 11:30 house tour and directed us to the theater to watch the movie prior to the tour. The movie wasn't much but we really enjoyed the Lincoln House Tour. It's a cute street and the house is decorated of the period with a few actual possessions of the Lincoln Family. Our tour guide, Isiah, was enthusiastic and informative. There's a small gift shop. It is really well done.*Side Note: There were three men here who I do not believe worked here that were Abraham Lincoln doppelgangers. We didn't know if it was a popular look in the area or what? They weren't dressed like Abe but it was amazing!
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January 2023 by Ryan D.
We literally stumbled upon this by accident. We were in the capitol to attend the governor and other state constitutional officer's inauguration. We had to park several blocks away and passed by the Lincoln Home National Historic Site without even noticing it. The gravel/dirt road and wooden plank sidewalk should have been a clue but I was too focused on getting to the inauguration and passed security to notice. On the way back, going at a slower pace, I noticed some of the signs and landmarks that I had passed before. There are many interesting places to see in the several blocks that this area occupies, including a home that Abraham Lincoln lived and raised his children in. In the future, I hope to go back and have the time to take the free walking tour which others have told me is a must-see. The reason that I am giving this four stars is for an obvious lack of signage. If a history lover like me can pass by and not notice this attraction, then that tells me that there is a signage problem. A sign announcing the site and a sign pointing to the visitor's center, where the tour starts, would be very helpful. If you are in Springfield, take the time to go on this tour.
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December 2022 by Steven C.
Outstanding tour of the original Lincoln home, free of charge. Must take free guided tour which is great, takes about 20 minutes including the neighborhood with period homes well restored. You get the feel of 1850 when Lincoln lived here.
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October 2022 by Mary C.
What a fun and education experience! We stopped in for quick site seeing after a recommendation from a local as we were in town for a wedding. They do tours of the home every half an hour - it is free! But make sure to get a ticket as the last tour at 4:30 pm (at least on Thursday). They walk you through from the visitor center across the street and hear about the Lincoln family. Much of the furniture is still the originals which is so awesome to see! It is fun for all ages and when you're done the replica of the town is there too so you can feel really immersed to the time.
