Abraham Lincoln believed in the ideal that everyone in America should have the opportunity to improve their economic and social condition. Lincoln’s life was the embodiment of that idea. We know him as the sixteenth president but he was also a sp...
On the corner of Jackson and 8th Streets in Springfield, Illinois stands the home where Abraham Lincoln settled down to raise a family, cultivate a successful legal profession, and where he began his career in politics. Today the house looks much as Lincoln knew it, a glimpse into the home and personal life as he left behind before history called him away, never to return.
The Lincoln Home is a 2-story Greek-Revival style wooden house, painted a tan color known as Quaker Brown, with dark forest-green shutters. The house is viewed from its southwest corner. The west face has a wooden front door in center, with two windows on each side. There are five windows on the second floor on the west face. The south face has three windows on the first floor, and four on the second floor, with the southeast corner of the house approximately five feet shorter less wide than the main part of the house, giving space for a narrow, covered porch in the southeast corner first floor. The roof of the porch has an elaborate metal railing. There are two chimneys visible on the sloped roof on the main part of the house. Surrounding the house is a tan wooden fence with a gate. The entire property is elevated on a brick retaining wall, with steps leading up to the front door. The sidewalk in front of the house is redbrick.
The Abraham Lincoln National Heritage Area tells the story of President Abraham Lincoln’s 30 years living, working, and traveling in central Illinois while he unknowingly prepared himself to lead the nation during a time of unprecedented challenges.
The Arnold House was occupied by Charles Arnold, political ally and neighbor of Abraham Lincoln. Today this building houses exhibits on the Lincoln neighborhood and historic preservation.
One-and-a-half story small wood frame house, painted light gray with darker gray trim and shutters, with view from northwest corner of house. House has main part of building, with attachment room connected to west end. Door is on north side of main part of house, with a window to the door's right. Five steps lead up to the door, with a modern metal railing. Three windows are seen on the northern face of the attachment part of the building, to the door's left. Chimney is visible on roof. On the western side of the building, another door is visible with a window to the door's right and a small window above, like an attic or loft window.
The Harriet Dean House was once occupied by a neighbor of Abraham Lincoln and today houses exhibits on the Lincoln Home and Lincoln Family for visitors to enjoy.
Two-story dark brown wooden house with dark green shutters and brown, almost-black trim. Four steps lead up to dark brown front door, in center with small wooden awning over front door. To front door's left is a small porch with two windows. Two windows also are on front door's right. 5 windows visible on front face of second floor. Two chimneys visible on roof. Small yard is surrounded by white wooden fence.
Located just a half-block from the house where Abraham Lincoln lived preceding his presidency, this lot was where Jameson Jenkins lived. Jenkins is believed to have helped escaped slaves reach freedom through the Underground Railroad during the time Abraham Lincoln lived in the neighborhood.
Grassy, empty property lot in between two large wooden houses. Lot is surrounded by a white wooden fence. An informational outdoor wayside exhibit sign sits in the front of the lot. Running alongside the front of the lot is a wooden boardwalk. Separating boardwalk from gravel street is a strip of grass. On street in front of lot is a recreated old-fashioned wooden wagon/cart with wooden boxes sitting on top.
Stop on Lincoln Home waysides self-guided tour, A Lot of Activism in the Neighborhood wayside. Located in Jenkins Lot, along south side of 8th street
A Lot of Activism in the Neighborhood In the empty lot before you once stood two small houses. The 1850 census tells us two families lived here. The Jenkins and the Blanks shared walls and a common goal: to improve the lives of African Americans. Both families became advocates for freedom through their activism. James and Martha Ann Blanks, free people of color, arrived in Springfield in the 1840’s. James became a champion for African American education. In the 1850’s, he helped organize a school fundraiser and joined a group of African Americans who believed education was “the only sure way to redeem ourselves from the bondage that we are now in.” The Jenkins family arrived in Springfield sometime in 1844. Jameson Jenkins filed his Certificate of Freedom with the Sangamon County Recorder of Deeds on March 28, 1846 to prove he was free. Jenkins was a drayman or wagon driver who transported goods. His occupation was a perfect job for someone who was also a conductor on the Underground Railroad. On January 16, 1850, Jenkins successfully transported escaped slaves north to Bloomington, Illinois. Image (left): Sepia document with handwritten text. In upper left corner, the name “Jameson Jenkins” can be read. Caption: This document is a scan of the transcription of Jameson Jenkins’ Certificate of Freedom as it was entered into the Sangamon Country Recorder of Deeds book. Image Credit: Illinois Regional Archives Depository. Image (lower left): Photo of white obelisk-shaped monument on gray stone/concrete base, maybe 7 ft. Tall. Chiseled into monument is name “J. Jenkins.” Caption: Jameson Jenkins was born in North Carolina in 1810 and died in 1873. Martha Ann Pelham Blanks was sister to Jameson’s wife Elizabeth. Most of the Jenkins and Blanks family, including James Blanks, are buried in Springfield’s Oak Ridge Cemetery. In 2012, multiple community organizations came together to restore the Jenkins monument. Image Credit: National Park Service Traces of Activism Excavations at the Jenkins Lot in 2013 (photo, left) revealed this ceramic fragment from a children’s mug with the words “Reward of Merit” printed on it (fragment with artist rendering of cup, right). This term was commonly used in the 19th century to describe paper certificates or objects given to children for achievement in school. The Jenkins Lot is part of the National Park Service National Underground Railroad Network to Freedom Images (lower right): On left, photograph of archaeologist in jeans, short sleeve shirt, and wide-brimmed hat standing in large geometric-shaped hole/pit cut out of ground. Tarps, shovel, and other tools are scattered around and inside the pit. On right, monochrome drawing of a ceramic cup with printed text “Reward of Merit,” surrounded by flowery design pattern. Photograph of off-white triangular shard of original cup is superimposed on drawing, with text “of RIT” and part of golden flowery border visible. Logo (bottom right corner): golden star with silhouette of side profile of a person’s head with a small white star by tip of person’s nose, with text “National Underground Railroad Network to Freedom.”
LIHO Wayside: A Place to Call Home, stop on Lincoln Home self-guided waysides tour
A Place to Call Home You are standing in front of the house Abraham Lincoln and his family called home from 1844 to 1861. Take a closer look and you will find a plaque in the front door with Lincoln’s name on it. Seven years after he rode into Springfield on a borrowed horse with all his belongings in two saddlebags, Lincoln bought a small cottage that would grow right along with him and his family until it became a full two story house. This would be the first and only home he ever owned. The Lincolns lived for seventeen years in this house. Lincoln’s sons Eddie, Willie, and Tad were born in this house. Here Abraham and Mary Lincoln’s friends and neighbors gathered for Eddie’s funeral in 1850. A familiar sight would have been Lincoln closing his front door behind him as he walked to his law office. From this home, Lincoln’s first-born son Robert left for college in 1859. In February 1861, Lincoln closed the front door one last time, as he left his home in Springfield, Illinois for Washington D.C. as president-elect of the United States. Ahead was the task to govern a nation divided by slavery, and to preserve a government, as he later said, “whose leading object is, to elevate the condition of men – to lift artificial weights from all shoulders – to clear the paths of laudable pursuit for all – to afford all, an unfettered start, and a fair chance, in the race of life.” Lincoln’s life in Springfield was the embodiment of that belief, the ideal that in a free society everyone should have a fair chance. Image (left): Black and white photo of Lincoln Home with view from southwest corner. Lincoln Home is a two-story Greek Revival style house. Two chimneys are visible on roof. Front door is in center of west face, flanked by two windows on either side and five windows on second floor. On south face, four windows are visible on second floor and three on first floor. Southeast corner occupied by covered porch, with railing on porch roof. House is surrounded by wooden fence and whole property is on raised brick retaining wall. Abraham Lincoln and child standing behind the fence in southwest corner of home. Caption: This picture was taken in 1860. Abraham Lincoln and his third son, Willie, are seen standing behind the fence. Tad, the youngest son, is hiding behind the fencepost. Image Credit: National Park Service. Timeline (bottom): 1839 The house was a one-and-a-half story cottage constructed for Reverend Charles Dresser; 1844 The Lincoln family (Abraham, Mary, and Robert) moved into the home; 1855-1856 The home was raised to two full stories. The bedroom was moved to the upstairs portion of the home, allowing for the creation of the rear parlor. The iron railing was added to the second-floor porch and a wall was put in place to separate the kitchen and dining room; 1861 The Lincoln family moved to Washington, D.C. Lucian Tilton, a railroad executive, and his wife became tenants of the Lincoln Home; 1887 The Lincoln Home was deeded to the State of Illinois by Robert Lincoln; 1972 The Lincoln Home officially became a National Historic Site.
LIHO Waysides: Boyhood Home of Julius Rosenwald, stop on LIHO self-guided wayside tour
Boyhood Home of Julius Rosenwald Noted businessman and philanthropist Julius Rosenwald (1862 – 1932) lived in this house as a boy between 1869 and 1879. The son of German Jewish immigrants, he left Springfield without completing high school to learn the clothing trade. In 1895, Rosenwald became a partner in Sears, Roebuck & Co., bringing managerial skill that made it into a retailing powerhouse and him a very wealthy man. A visionary philanthropist, Rosenwald contributed to a variety of charitable causes. In 1917 he established “The Rosenwald Fund” to help African Americans in the south where segregation and racism severely limited access to education and other opportunities. Under the initial guidance of educator Booker T. Washington, Rosenwald helped rural African American communities in the south build what came to called “Rosenwald Schools.” By 1932, 600,000 African American children benefited from the more than five thousand Rosenwald schools and related facilities located throughout fifteen southern states. Between 1928 and 1948, the Rosenwald Fund provided financial assistance to hundreds of primarily African American artists, writers, musicians, and scholars who could not otherwise afford to pursue their endeavors. Famous recipients include author W. E. B. Dubois, poet Langston Hughes, Doctor Charles Drew and opera singer Marian Anderson. Julius Rosenwald, and the people in whom he invested, made a powerful contribution to our country. This house was named the “Rosenwald House” in Public Law 116-336, “Julius Rosenwald and the Rosenwald Schools Act of 2020,” January 13, 2021. Image (background): Black and white photograph of adult Julius Rosenwald standing in black suit, tie, and bowler hat with black straight cane. Rosenwald has gray hair and mustache and wears round glasses. Caption: Julius Rosenwald, 1917. Image Credit: Library of Congress. Image (far left): photograph of two story gray-olive house behind white fence, partially obscured by leafy tree. House has dark olive trim and columned front porch with front door of left, and two tall, thin windows on door’s right. Three tall, thin windows are visible on second floor of front face. Caption: Boyhood Home of Julius Rosenwald is within the Lincoln Home National Historic Site. Image Credit: National Park Service. Image (left): Map of southern area of United States with dots scattered over map, title reads “The Julius Rosenwald Fund Schoolhouse Construction Map, 5357 Buildings, July 1, 1932.” Caption: The Rosenwald Fund supported the construction of thousands of schools throughout the south. Image Credit: Risk University, John Hope and Aurelia E. Franklin Library Special Collection, Julius Rosenwald Fund Archives. Image (center): Black and white photo of simple white wooden building with tall windows on all sides and chimney. Group of roughly 50 African-American adults and children, standing in front of building. Caption: The Pee Wee Rosenwald School, ca. 1935. Image Credit: South Carolina Department of Archives and History. Image (right): Sepia photograph of Julius Rosenwald in black jacket, pants, and bowler walking with similarly dressed, darker-skinned man on path with trees and old fashioned car in background. Caption: Julius Rosenwald and educator Booker T. Washington at Alabama’s Tuskegee Institute in 1915. Image Credit: University of Chicago Library. Image (far right): Drawing of building similar to center image labeled “Community School Plans.” Drawn floor plan labeled “Floor Plan No. 400 Four Teacher Community School” consists of 4 main center rooms labelled as classrooms, with three smaller rooms on each of left and right sides of building with labels “Boy’s Room,” “Cloaks,” “Vestibule,” and “Industrial Room.” Caption: This architectural plan for a “Four Teacher Community School” was produced with the support of the Rosenwald Fund in 1924. Image Credit: State Archives of North Carolina.
LIHO Wayside: A Day with the Lincolns, stop on Lincoln Home self-guided wayside tour
Day with the Lincolns The Lincolns were a family with the same hopes and challenges as many others in the neighborhood. The Lincolns lived a middle-class family lifestyle in nineteenth century Springfield. Abraham Lincoln spent long periods away from home on the Eighth Judicial Circuit. For Mary, that meant running a household on her own. On days when the whole family was at home, one could see movement from all windows of the house. Straight ahead is the kitchen window. Mary and the hired girl would have been cooking a delicious meal, maybe for Willie’s ninth birthday party. Look up! Willie and Tad might have been running on the second-floor hallway. It wasn’t uncommon to see Abraham Lincoln smiling and telling stories while walking down the sidewalk with one of his sons on his shoulders or holding on to his coattails. A neighbor, who lived to the east of the Lincolns, commented that “Lincoln would take his children and would walk out on the rail way out in the country—would talk to them—Explain things carefully—particularly.” Years later, Mary described her husband saying “It is my pleasure that my children are free, happy and unrestrained by parental tyranny. Love is the chain whereby to bind a child to its parents.” Image: Black and white photograph of face of 2 story house facing the backyard. Wooden boardwalk runs through yard and is shaped like a “Y” with 2 branches of the boardwalk splitting towards house. Left path goes to covered back porch, on left corner of house. Right path leads to another covered porch area set into the middle backside of house. Small window is in wall between porches and two windows are visible on second floor. Drainage pipes from roof run down sides of house then converge over first floor window to single pipe running downwards. Mature apple tree in yard on left. Caption: This is the first known image of the Lincoln backyard, dated around 1865. Image Credit: National Park Service.
Stop on Lincoln Home National Historic Site wayside self-guided tour, Economic and Ethnic Diversity in Springfield. Located on South side of 8th street.
In Abraham Lincoln’s time, many residents of Springfield came from someplace else, whether a state or an ocean away. Southerners, northerners, and European immigrants came here to improve their lot in life, such as Lincoln had in 1837. Springfield’s African American immigrants included both freemen who owned their own homes and businesses, such as Lincoln’s neighbor Jameson Jenkins, and indentured servants who lived with their white employers. On Lincoln’s own street, occupations ranged from an elected state official to washerwomen; income levels varied widely; and houses ranged in size from modest dwellings to spacious two-story houses, such as the Lincoln Home. Image (top left): Aerial street map of Springfield, Illinois labeled “City of Springfield, Sangamon County: Springfield’s Diversity in 1860.” Blue dots indicated African-American residences, orange dots indicate households where African-American servants live with White employers, green dots indicate Irish immigrant residences, yellow dots indicate German immigrant residences, and red dots indicate Portuguese immigrant residences. Yellow dots are most numerous and orange dots the least. Red dots mainly located in northeast corner, green dots in east and northeast, and blue in the north. Caption: According to the 1860 Census, Springfield’s resident included Irish, German, Portuguese, and African Americans. Image (center): Scanned document of a page of 1860 Census for Springfield. Census table includes columns for name, age, sex, color, occupation, value of personal estate, place of birth, marriage status, and more. Places of birth include Illinois, Kentucky, Ireland, Wales, Scotland, Ohio, New York, and others. Image (bottom right): Aerial street map of Springfield, Illinois labeled “City of Springfield, Sangamon County: A Border City in 1860.” Blue dots indicate households from Northern states and red dots indicate households from southern states. No particular trends, though there may be slightly more northern households. Caption: By the time Lincoln left Springfield in 1861, Illinois typified a border state, with a slave-holding past, a desire to preserve the Union, and a mixed population of both northerners and southerners.
Stop on Lincoln Home Wayside self guided tour, Lincoln Home Becomes a Shrine (part 1). Located at Intersection of 8th and Jackson Streets.
Lincoln understood the Important of making his image available for the presidential campaign. Springfield photographer Preston Butler captured several likenesses of Lincoln during the 1860 election. Image (far left): Black and white chest-up portrait photograph of clean-shaven Abraham Lincoln in black jacket, white shirt, and black bowtie. Arms are crossed. His face is thin with high, sunken cheekbones. Caption: Ambrotype of Abraham Lincoln, 1860, by Preston Butler. The portrait painter who commissioned this image of Lincoln later wrote: “There are so many hard lines on his face, that it becomes a mask to the inner man. His true character only shines out when in an animated conversation, or when telling an amusing tale.” Image (left): Scan of excerpt from Illinois State Journal, dated May 24, 1860. Excerpt reads: “Photographs of the Next President—P. Butler of this city, has a number of photograph likenesses of Hon. Abraham Lincoln. He will sell them for one dollar each. Persons at distance will have to send a one cent stamp (in addition to the price for the likeness) for every photograph ordered. Image (center top): Black and white photograph of Lincoln Home from southwest corner. Lincoln Home is two-story wooden Greek-Revival style home with two visible chimneys. Front door is on western face, with two windows on each side of door. Five windows are on second floor western face. Southern face has four windows visible on second floor and three on first. Southeastern corner is occupied by covered porch, with railing on porch roof. Property is on raised hill, with brick retaining wall in front. Streets are muddy. Lincoln and his son are seen standing behind fence surrounding front yard. Another man, child, and blurry smudge stand at corner of boardwalk at house corner. Caption: Lincoln Home, by John Adams Whipple, 1860. Young Isaac Diller, whose blurred figure appears on the street corner, later recalled the moment when he posed with Lincoln, Willie, and Tad: “I ran across the street from my aunt’s house to get in a free picture with the Lincolns, but I turned my head at the wrong moment to look at a farm wagon. Only the stripes on my socks and boots showed up.” Image (center bottom): Young boy with slicked hair in dark coat, striped pants, and holding a dark felt hat. Caption: Isaac Diller, 1860. Image (far right): Black and white photograph of Lincoln Home with huge crowd of people and horses crammed and standing in on steps of, in yard, and on street in front of Lincoln Home. On street is also parade cart of women wearing white. Behind cart someone holds sign saying “Won’t You Let Me In Kansas.” Lincoln is visible wearing white and standing right of front door. Caption: Republican Rally, by William Shaw, 1860. Lincoln offered the use of his own basement to serve as the darkroom for the development of this photograph. Isaac Diller, the young neighbor and playmate of the Lincoln Boys, later recalled that he ‘witnessed this parade...and all day wore a blue ribbon with a picture of Abraham Lincoln pasted on it.’”
Stop on Lincoln Home National Historic Site Wayside Tour, Lincoln's Home Becomes a Shrine wayside number 2. Located at the Intersection of 8th and Jackson streets.
Since Abraham Lincoln’s death in 1865, the corner of Eighth and Jackson has become a popular destination for those seeking a personal connection to Lincoln’s home, life, and legacy. Through the years, visitors to the Lincoln Home have ranged from sitting presidents to ordinary citizens, and war veterans to school children. Since the Mid-19th century, millions of People have visited the Lincoln Home. Do you know of a relative or friend who has visited? Who are you visiting the Lincoln Home with today? Image (upper left): Black and white photograph of early 1900s vehicle with its top down, on street in front of Lincoln Home. Car has several occupants, including a mustached man in top hat sitting in the backseat, and is surrounded by people in dark clothing and hats. Caption: President Taft visiting the Lincoln Home on Lincoln’s birthday, February 12, 1911, the first sitting U.S. President to do so. Image (upper right): Black and white photograph of Lincoln Home from southwest corner. Large crowd of people are standing in house’s yard and on surrounding boardwalk. House is two-story, Greek Revival style with shutters. House is draped with dark covers and drapes over windows, banners hanging out of windows, dark décor over vertical house frame, and white draperies over roof trim. Caption: Lincoln Home decorated for Lincoln’s funeral and burial, May 1865. Image (center): Black and white photograph of corner of southwest corner of Lincoln Home with group of adults and children standing in front of house on corner. Caption: School group, ca. 1877. Image (lower left): Black and white photograph of large group of people, mostly men, standing in grassy area along boardwalk. Lincoln Home is in background on left. One individual is holding an American flag. Caption: Lincoln Home backyard, October 16, 1889, during the dedication of the Lincoln Homestead State Site and U.S. flag raising during Civil War ex-POW reunion. Image (lower center): Black and white photograph of front (west) view of the Lincoln Home. Front door is in center, flanked by two windows on each side. Five windows are on second floor front face. House is pale color with very dark shutters. Property is sitting on raised brick retaining wall, with flagpole waving an American flag in small front yard, on right of house. An old-fashioned bus with striped awning cover over front half of bus drives by on street in front of home. Caption: Tour bus, ca. 1940.
Stop on Lincoln Home Waysides self-guided tour, Mary Lincoln's Circle of Friends wayside. Located in front yard of Sprigg House on South side of 8th Street
Mary Lincoln’s Circle of Friends Mary Lincoln formed lasting friendships with women in her neighborhood, including Julia Sprigg and Hannah Shearer, and exchanged a lively correspondence with many out-of-town relatives and friends. Julia Sprigg lived in the house behind you and was a widow with children. Hannah Shearer only lived int eh neighborhood for a year but corresponded with Mary throughout her life. Emilie Helm was Mary’s favorite younger half-sister. Image (background): Watercolor painting of the Lincoln Home at the southwest corner of the 8th and Jackson street intersection. Lincoln Home is two-story Greek Revival style home in a yellow-tan color with dark green shutters and two chimneys visible. West face has front door flanked by 2 windows on each side with 5 windows on second floor. South face has three windows on each floor that are visible, with a covered porch in house’s southeast corner. Porch roof has elaborate railing. Streets are mud/dirt with wood plank curbs and wooden ramps connecting street to boardwalks. Individuals in 1860s clothing are on the street and boardwalk, including a horse-drawn buggy. Image (center left): Black and white photograph of young woman. Her dark hair is pinned back with ringlets in the back. She is wearing a dark long-sleeved dress with lace on the bodice and collar and a broach. Caption: Mary Todd Lincoln, 1846. Image (center right): Black and white photograph of middle-aged woman with hair pinned back wearing clothing with high collar. Caption: Julia Sprigg, ca. 1870. Image (upper right): Black and white photograph of dark-haired young woman. Hair is in two buns, one on each side of face. Wearing dark top with black lace collar and pale shoulder fabric. Caption: Emilie Todd Helm, 1860. Image (lower right): Handwritten letter in black ink script.
Mary Todd Lincoln Wayside (My Hand will Never be Given Where My Heart is Not) for LIHO self-guided wayside tour
“My Hand will Never be Given where my Heart is Not.” --Mary Todd to Mercy Levering, 1841 Mary Ann Todd was born on December 13, 1818 to a large and wealthy family from Lexington, Kentucky. Mary was six years old when her mother died. Her grandmother helped raise her and made sure she received several years of schooling, which she completed when she was about 20. Mary Todd was a charming and popular young lady. She enjoyed talking about politics and literature and she could speak and read French fluently. Abraham Lincoln was quickly attracted to her intelligence and elegance. They married and purchased their home in 1844 where they held many gatherings that increased Mr. Lincoln’s reputation for his political career. With Mr. Lincoln often away on business, Mary took charge of the home and family. When Mr. Lincoln became the Republican presidential nominee, Mary and her home became the center of national attention. One Republican official commented that “I shall be proud, as an American citizen, when the day brings her to grace the White House.” Image (right): Black and white photo of young woman. Her dark hair is pinned back with ringlets in the back. She is wearing a dark long-sleeved dress with lace on the bodice and collar. A broach with a drawing on a woman is at the close neckline. Caption: Mary Todd Lincoln, 1846. Image Credit: Library of Congress. Image (center top): Black and white photo of a 2 story brick house with front porch held up by white columns. Porch roof functions as second story balcony. Three windows visible on second floor and one window in center on first floor. Front door is on left side of front house face. Caption: In 1839, Mary moved to Springfield to live with her oldest sister, Elizabeth Edwards, in this house. Mary and Abraham Lincoln may have met at one of the many parties held at the Edwards home. They were married here on November 4, 1842. In her later years, Mary faced health issues and eventually returned to this home, where she died on July 16, 1882. Image Credit: National Park Service. Image (lower left): Black and white photo of young man with hair slicked back, wearing jacket, white button up, light vest, and dark bowtie. Image (lower center): Black and white photo of middle-aged woman in dress and bonnet flanked by two young male children in dark clothes. Image (lower right): Black and white photo of unshaven, younger Abraham Lincoln with neatly combed hair in dark jacket, vest, bowtie and white shirt. Caption for images: The Lincoln family grew to include four boys: Robert, born on August 1, 1843; Edward, born on March 10, 1846, but died on February 1, 1850; William, born on December 21, 1850; and Thomas, born on April 4, 1853. Left: Robert Lincoln, 1860. Middle: Mary, Willie (left) and Tad Lincoln, 1860. Right: Abraham Lincoln, 1846. Image Credit: Library of Congress, Abraham Lincoln Presidential Library & Museum, Library of Congress.
Stop of Lincoln Home Waysides Tour, Politics in the Neighborhood. Located on western face of replica wagon on south side of 8th St
Just Imagine! On August 8, 1860, an exuberant political rally parage passed by the Lincoln home, including 180 train cars of Lincoln supporters, 28 oxen pulling a mammoth wagon, 21 Wide Awake Clubs (groups of young pro-Lincoln men), 10 decorated caravans of ladies, 1 full rigged schooner with sailors, and 1 huge wagon, pulled by 6 horses, with power loom manufacturing jean cloth. On this day of fireworks, floats, and thousands of on-lookers, Lincoln asked supporters to “kindly let me be silent.” Throughout the election, Lincoln’s Democratic rival, Stephen A. Douglas, actively campaigned, while Lincoln followed tradition and let others represent him, including friend and neighbor, Jesse Dubois. A Good Neighbor, Friend, and Supporter Jesse K. Dubois served with Lincoln in the Illinois House of Representatives, welcomed Lincoln’s help in his 1856 bid for state auditor, and often campaigned for Lincoln in return. While working for Lincoln’s senate campaign in 1854, he voiced the thought others may have shared--“I am for you against the world.” Dubois served as a pallbearer at Lincoln’s funeral in 1865. Image: Watercolor painting of Lincoln neighborhood at 8th and Jackson St. Intersection from the west. Parade of people walks down 8th street, including a replica log cabin pulled by several horses, people with signs, a cart with barrels pulled by horses, and a company of men in blue waving red and white flags. Some people in watching crowd hold signs.
LIHO Wayside: The Long Road to Washington, stop on LIHO self-guided wayside tour
The Long Road to Washington In fifty-one years of life Abraham Lincoln had lived in three different states. He worked many different jobs including store clerk, store owner, postmaster, militia captain, surveyor, lawyer, and politician. He lived in a one room log cabin, the back room of a store, inns, taverns, and finally the house before you. Abraham Lincoln enjoyed victories and suffered losses. He persevered in an educated world despite never having been to college, and only possessed less than one year of formal education. Despite adversity he never stopped working towards bettering himself and achieving his goals. He believed that every American had the right to this. On March 6, 1860 he stated “When one starts poor, as most do in the race of life, free society is such that he knows he can better his condition. I want every man to have that chance—and I believe a black man is entitled to it—in which he can better his condition.” On February 11, 1861 Abraham Lincoln began his journey to the nation’s capital to lead a nation on the verge of civil war. A war over who could experience the same kind of road that Lincoln traveled. Should African Americans have the same chance in the race of life? On the way to Washington, Lincoln stopped at Independence Hall in Philadelphia to see where the nation’s road began. There he said “I have never had a feeling politically that did not spring from the sentiments embodied in the Declaration of Independence. It was that which gave promise that in due time the weights should be lifted from the shoulders of all men, and that all should have an equal chance.” Image (center): Sepia map of northeastern area of the United States. Solid line snakes from north-central Kentucky (1), through southern tip of Indiana (2), and to central Illinois (3, 4, 5). Dotted Line from Central Illinois (5) through central Indiana, to northern tip of Kentucky-Ohio border, northeast through Ohio into Pennsylvania then follows edge of Lake Erie up into and east through New York State, down into New Jersey, back into Pennsylvania, then Maryland to Washington D.C. Caption: The solid path on this 1863 map is an approximation of the route taken by Lincoln to different places during his lifetime. The dotted path is an approximation of his inauguration route from Springfield, IL to Washington D.C. Image Credit: Library of Congress Images (bottom, left to right): 1. Rustic Log Cabin with wooden door and no visible windows. Caption: Abraham Lincoln Birthplace National Historical Park, Kentucky. 2. Log Cabin with stone chimney attached to side of house and single window. Lincoln Boyhood National Memorial, Indiana. 3. Large pinkish rock with plaque on stone raised platform with flagpole flying American flag. Caption: Lincoln Trail Homestead State Park and Memorial, Illinois. 4. Two grayish log cabins with wooden doors and windows. Simple fences made of split wood rails stacked on top of each other. Caption: Lincoln’s New Salem State Historic Site, Illinois. 5. Two-story tan house with brown trim and green shutters on brick retaining wall surrounded by tan wooden fence. Caption: Lincoln Home National Historic Site, Illinois. Credit for all Images: National Park Service.
LIHO Wayside: The People Lincoln Knew, stop on LIHO wayside self-guided tour
The People Lincoln Knew “To this place and the kindness of these people, I owe everything” --Abraham Lincoln The Lincoln neighborhood was a lively place with people of different ages, ethnicities, and religious beliefs. Like Lincoln, many people came to Springfield hoping to improve their lives. Lincoln formed a deep relationship with many of the people here. Ultimately, they helped Abraham Lincoln become the person we know today. Just down the street lived Jameson Jenkins, a free African American. On the day Lincoln left to start the presidency, Jenkins gave Lincoln a ride to the Great Western Depot train station. A few houses away, lived Mrs. Sprigg, one of Mary Lincoln’s closest friends. She was from Germany and her daughter sometimes looked after the Lincoln boys. On the street, you might find Abraham Lincoln playing with local children such as Lizzie Decrastos. Lizzie was the daughter of one of the Lincolns’ Portuguese hired girls. Lincoln would often give her piggyback rides to school. Faces from Many Places Inside the Lincoln Home Several of the Lincolns’ hired help were also African American or came from overseas. Of the hired girls the Lincolns employed, at least three were Irish, three were Portuguese, and six were African American. Image (middle right): Black and white shoulders-up portrait of young African American woman with short dark hair. Caption: Mariah Vance worked for the Lincolns from 1850-1860, the longest period of any servant for the family. Robert Lincoln never forgot how important she was in the Lincoln household. After visiting her for dinner in 1900, he sent her a pension check every month. Image Credit: Abraham Lincoln Presidential Library & Museum Image (center): Black and white shoulders-up portrait of older fair-skinned woman with thin hair pulled back, sunken cheeks, and round rimmed glasses. Caption: Charlotte de Souza was a Portuguese immigrant who sewed dresses for Mary when she was a young woman. She sewed the dresses that Mary may have wore at the White House. Image Credit: Sangamon Valley Collection Graphic (center left): Bar graph. Vertical axis lists numbers in 150 intervals from 0 to 1500. Horizontal axis lists places/identity groups. Data is as follows: Ireland 1266; Germany 1059; African Americans 290; The Madeira Islands, Portugal 268; England 256; Scotland 62; Canada 59; Norway 43; France 39; Switzerland 33; Other Europe less than 30; Nassau 19; Other Non-European less than 10. Caption: By 1860, 33% of Springfield residents were born outside the United States, with people from 24 different countries. Another 2.5% of the population was African American. This graph shows the number of residents which were African American and those which were immigrants, by their country of origin. Graphic (bottom center): Pie chart with two categories, adults (18+ years) and minors (0-17 years). Caption: By 1860, 74% of the Springfield population was only seventeen years old or younger, thus the city and the Lincoln neighborhood, were bustling with young people. Data Source: Lincoln’s Springfield Neighborhood (Paull & Hart, 2015).
1st stop of Lincoln Home Wayside Self-Guided Tour. Introduces the Lincoln Home National Historic Site in the context of Abraham Lincoln's time.
On May 1, 1844 Abraham, Mary, and nine-month-old Robert Lincoln moved to this newly developed area on the eastern edge of Springfield into a little house on the corner of Eighth and Jackson streets. It would become a vibrant, diverse, middle class neighborhood. This community was home to immigrants from Ireland; England; Germany; France; and the Madeira Islands, Portugal; as well as free African Americans and families from over ten different states. Each was looking to build their life here on the western frontier prairie. People had a variety of jobs including farmer, fireman, druggist, storekeeper, politician, photographer, and a future president. As you walk through the historic neighborhood, use your imagination to fill the now empty lots with houses that are no longer there. Hear the many dialects, languages, and accents as the neighbors would converse. Smell the variety of ethnic foods that would be cooking, wafting out of the open windows. Imagine the sounds of the songs and music coming from the parlors of the homes. See the never-ending comings and goings of the members of this vibrant and diverse community going about their daily business. As you walk in the footsteps of these long-gone people, you can feel a sense of wonder as you experience what Abraham Lincoln and so many others did many years ago. Image (center): Watercolor painting of the Lincoln Home at the southwest corner of the 8th and Jackson street intersection. Lincoln Home is two-story Greek Revival style home in a yellow-tan color with dark green shutters and two brick chimneys visible. West face has front door in center flanked by 2 windows on each side with 5 windows on second floor. South face has three windows on each floor that are visible, with a covered porch in house’s southeast corner. Porch roof has elaborate railing. Streets are mud/dirt with wood plank curbs and wooden ramps connecting street to boardwalks. Individuals in 1860s clothing are on the street and boardwalk, including a horse-drawn buggy. Image (lower right): Sepia photograph of a young Caucasian girl with short dark hair wearing a light long-sleeved dress. Caption: The Remann family were very good friends of the Lincoln family. Josephine (Josie) Remann was called Lincoln’s favorite, almost a stand-in daughter. She and her husband moved into the Lincoln Home in 1897 as custodians of the home. She remained there taking care of the Lincoln Home until her death in 1918. Image credit: Abraham Lincoln Presidential Library & Museum
At Lincoln Home National Historic Site you can follow in the footsteps of the father, husband, lawyer, and statesman who led the nation through the turbulent Civil War, and inspired him to turn the war into a "new birth of freedom."
Lincoln Home National Historic Site is a 12-acre, 4-square block area, bordered by Capitol Avenue to the north, Edwards Street to the South, 7th Street to the West, and 9th Street to the East. 8th Street runs north-south and Jackson Street runs east-west through the middle of the site. The Lincoln Home is located at the northeast corner of the intersection of 8th and Jackson Streets. The Visitor Center is located on 7th Street, just north of the intersection of 7th Street and Jackson Street. The Visitor Parking Lot is located south of the visitor center, also along 7th street. Overall, 37 buildings are located within the site's boundaries, with most of them being along 8th street. 14 of these buildings are historic houses that date to the Lincoln era. In addition to buildings, there are also several empty lots located alongside 8th street in between buildings where historic houses once stood during Lincoln's time. Along 8th street are several outdoor wayside exhibit signs with interpretive information. In addition to the Visitor Center and Lincoln Home, the Dean House and the Arnold House are accessible to the public. The Dean House is a two-story dark brown house with green shutters, located north-west of the Lincoln Home and east of the Visitor Center, along 8th street. The door is located on the south side of the building. The Arnold House is a gray one-story house located across Jackson Street from the Lincoln Home, directly south. A door with several stairs is located on the north side of the building. Another door, accessible via a ramp, is located on the south side of the building. This ramp is accessible via a gate located just east of the north side of the building.
Within a block of Abraham Lincoln's Home, the childhood home of Julius Rosenwald, philanthropist and president of Sears, Roebuck and Company still stands today. Rosenwald is most famous for helping Sears rise to success and for donating funding the creation of "Rosenwald Schools" to support African American education in the rural American south.
Two story house with wood siding, painted a light gray-olive color with darker gray trim. House is elevated on brick foundation, with four wooden gray steps leading up to front porch area. Porch runs length of front face of house, with porch roof supported by 4 gray wooden columns. Front door is on left side of porch with two floor to ceiling, 6 paned windows to door's right. Three more windows are visible on second floor, above porch roof. White wooden fence runs in front of house with gate.
Open 9:00 AM to 5:00 PM. Closed Thanksgiving Day, Christmas Day, and New Years Day. Visitors using the parking lot must pay $2.00 per hour. We ask visitors please pay with debit or credit card as we do not accept cash. Here you can get free tour tickets and site orientation. In the VC, Theater One shows a park film, and Theater Two serves as the meeting point for tours of the Lincoln Home. Tickets are required for tours of the Lincoln Home. Exhibits, information, souvenirs and bathrooms are located here.
Guided tours of the home where Abraham Lincoln and his family lived in the years leading up to his presidency are offered year-round and free of charge. During this 30-minute tour, step into the life of Abraham Lincoln and his family, and learn about the person behind one of the most beloved presidents in American history.
Tours
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Lincoln Home Outdoor Wayside Exhibit Tour
What was it like to live here in 1860? Who else lived here other than Abraham Lincoln? Stretch your legs with this easy walking tour around Lincoln Home National Historic Site, stopping by informative outdoor wayside exhibits that explore Abraham Lincoln, his family, their neighbors, and the relationships between the presidential family the other residents that called this 4 block area home.
