The Lincoln Home Visitor Center is the starting point for exploring the fascinating museum that was once the home of President Abraham Lincoln. Come here to pick up free tickets to one of the regular guided tours of the house. The visitor center is also an interesting museum in its own right. Exhibits here include a scale model of house as it looked in the 1850s, as well as three videos about the president and his home. Also on display is a bronze casting of Lincoln’s face and hands, which can be touched by visitors.
Mary Todd and Abraham Lincoln were married in 1842 and bought their house here in Springfield in 1844. Visit it today and see how they expanded what was once a very modest property in order to accommodate their growing family. The Lincolns had four sons over their course of their marriage, although only one survived to adulthood. In 1861, when Lincoln started serving as president, he held a final farewell party at the beloved family home before renting it out and moving to the White House.
From the outside, admire the two-level wooden house and its pretty green shutters. As you approach the door, notice the careful reproduction of the original Lincoln nameplate that hangs outside. Inside, follow your tour guide through a series of rooms that have been restored to look just as they would have when the Lincolns lived here. Immerse yourself in the 19th-century style, as you are surrounded by busy floral wallpapers and dark wood furniture and fireplaces. Hear your tour guide lay out the personal story of one of the most famous figures from U.S. history.
Find the Lincoln Home Visitor Center in a quiet residential area of Springfield, Illinois’ state capital. Tours of the house are free, but they fill up quickly, so it is best to arrive early in the morning to collect tickets. The visitor center is also the place to borrow wheelchairs, Braille guides and other aids for visitors with special accessibility requirements.
