30 Acres

Abe and Austin: VIP Jeff

• Place is a creek, a very shallow stream of water with deep banks from flash flooding.

Big Sink Trail

• Picnic area, picnic pavilion, with path leading to big sink trailhead.

Boundary Oak

Here at this spot once stood a large oak tree that witnessed the birth of Abraham Lincoln.

• A Stone wall surrounds a section of grass. In the middle there is a depressed section of ground where a large oak tree once stood.

Boundary Oak Trail

• Trailhead - located at end of paced sidewalk. Trees surrounding trail.

Cabin at the Knob Creek Farm

For five years, Abraham Lincoln and his family lived on the Knob Creek Farm before moving to Indiana in 1816.

• Small wooden cabin that is surrounded by fields and has a split rail fence in front of the cabin.

Growing Up Where Lincoln Lived: VIP Phyllis

Knob Creek

The Lincoln family used Knob Creek as their water source, and Abrham Lincoln likely fished here as well as a boy.

• Small creek with running water. The creek has many rocks on the bottom and has rocks and grass on either side of the water.

Lincoln Tavern

Now the Knob Creek Visitor Center, the Lincoln Tavern at Knob Creek was part of the private memorial to Abraham Lincoln that was begun by Hattie and Chester Howard in 1931. The log building was constructed as a roadside tavern to serve the new and growing automobile tourist trade of the era.

Overlook Landing - Pathway of a President

Overlook Trail

• Trailhead of Overlook trail begins at the Knob Creek Tavern.

Park Brochure, Abraham Lincoln Birthplace NHP

Pathway of a President

• Wooden boardwalk, connects to the front porch of visitor center.

Sinking Spring

Sinking Spring, located just below the hill on which Abraham Lincoln was born, was clearly identified in early land records. This water source was variably known as Sinking Spring, Rock Spring, and Cave Spring. However, early records generally refer to the landmark as Sinking Spring because the water dropped into a pit and disappeared into the earth. Thus, originated the name of the farm. The spring is located to the left of the steps leading up to the Memorial Building. 

• To the right of stone steps leading up to the Memorial Building is a stone staircase that leads down. At the bottom of the stairs is a railing that surrounds a spring gushing with water.

Site Bulletin, First Lincoln Memorial

Site Bulletin, Knob Creek

Symbolic Birth Cabin

Located in the Memorial Building, the Symbolic Birth Cabin represents the one Abraham Lincoln was born in on February 12, 1809. While the original was likely lost to time, the logs in this cabins date to mostly the 1840s and depicts a typical cabin of the mid 19th century.

The First Lincoln Memorial - Bottom of Stairs

The First Lincoln Memorial at Abraham Lincoln Birthplace

The first Lincoln Memorial, inside is Abraham Lincoln's symbolic cabin.

• Two story stone structure on top of of a hill with 56 stone steps leading up. The building is a Beaux-Arts neo-classical greyish-pink color with 6 columns. Surrounding the memorial building are a number trees and grass on either side of the steps.

The War Department Era: Reggie

Knob Creek Tavern Visitor Center

• Knob Creek Tavern Visitor Center
• Located at the Kentucky Boyhood Home at Knob Creek Unit.

Visitor Center at Abraham Lincoln Birthplace

• Visitor Center at Abraham Lincoln Birthplace
• The Visitor Center at the Birthplace Unit is open 9:00 am - 5:00 pm eastern time. Inside there are exhibits, including the Lincoln family bible, a 15 minute long movie, Abraham Lincoln: The Kentucky Years, and the park store. Phone number: 270-358-3137

• Picnic at the Abraham Lincoln Birthplace
• You and your family are able to enjoy the beautiful picnic area and shaded Picnic Pavilion on a first-come first-served basis. While you eat, you may even get a chance to see some of Kentucky's wildlife! Trash and recycling receptacles are provided under and near the pavilion, please remember to use them.

• View the Lincoln Family Bible
• Bibles were often the only book that frontier families owned. This Bible, Printed in 1799, belonged to the Lincoln family. Abraham Lincoln recorded his own birth, and other important dates in the bibles pages. 

• Shop at the Birthplace Bookstore
• Support your National Parks by shopping at Eastern National Bookstores, located at the Birthplace Unit.

• Watch the Park Film at the Birthplace
• View the 15 minute orientation film, Abraham Lincoln: The Kentucky Years shown in the Birthplace Unit Visitor Center. 

• Become a Jr. Ranger at the Birthplace
• Become a Jr. Ranger!

• Attend a Ranger Program
• Attending a Ranger program is a fun and interactive way to enhance your visit!

• Boundary Oak Trail
• The Boundary Oak trail is an a short easy trail that leads from the Boundary Oak marker to the Memorial Building.

• Travel the Pathway of a President
• Pathway of a President is an accessible wooden boardwalk that leads from the Visitor Center to the Memorial Building.

• Shop at the Boyhood Home Bookstore
• Support your National Parks by shopping at Eastern National Bookstores, located at the Boyhood Home Unit.

• Birdwatching at the Birthplace Unit
• Spot some of Kentucky's birds on the Pathway of a President. Many benches are scatted on the path so you are able to sit and enjoy nature. 

• Observe Wildlife at the Birthplace Unit
• Observe wildlife such as squirrls, deer, turkey, and so much more at the bench on the landing of the Pathway of a President. 

• Become a Jr. Ranger at the Boyhood Home
• Explore. Learn. Protect. The Junior Ranger motto is recited by children around the country; each taking an oath of their own to protect parks, continue to learn about parks, and share their own ranger story with friends and family.

• Big Sink Trail
• Big Sink Trail has three loops that all connect at the picnic area. The parking for it is across the street on 31 E from the park entrance.

• Overlook Trail at Knob Creek
• 3-mile round trip hiking trail at Knob Creek Boyhood home site.

Boyhood at Knob Creek - Grounds Walking Tour

On this walking tour, you will view the grounds of the Abraham Lincoln Birthplace Boyhood Unit, and the buildings on site.

Pathway of a President - Accessible Route Tour

View the First Lincoln Memorial, Symbolic Cabin, travel the Pathway of a President trail, and more as you enjoy a journey at the Birthplace Unit of Abraham Lincoln Birthplace National Historic Park.

The Man from the Sinking Spring - Memorial and Grounds Walking Tour

View the First Lincoln Memorial, Symbolic Cabin, Sinking Spring, and more as you enjoy a walk at Birthplace Unit.