President Lincoln's Cottage
Robert H. Smith Visitor Education Center
The Education Center, which is adjacent to the cottage, features fascinating exhibits and media presentations of Lincoln's life and legacy. Learn More
President Lincoln's Cottage, a National Trust Historic Site
Lincoln's Cottage provides visitors with an intimate, never-before-seen view of Abraham Lincoln’s presidency and family life. Learn More
Faithfully Restored
A $15 million restoration (funded by the National Trust) has faithfully restored the cottage and landscape to its Civil War-era appearance. (Photo by Carol M. Highsmith) Learn More
Located on a picturesque hilltop in Washington, DC, President Lincoln's Cottage is the most significant historic site directly associated with Lincoln's presidency aside from the White House. During the Civil War, President Lincoln and his family resided here from June to November of 1862, 1863 and 1864. It was here that the President could take time to play with his son and read his favorite books, but he also used the cottage as a quiet setting for important meetings, visits from well-wishers, and solitary reflection. Though he considered the Soldiers’ Home a sanctuary, President Lincoln could not escape the civil war or the burdens of leadership. He made major decisions and developed the Emancipation Proclamation during the months spent at the Cottage.
Preservation History
In 2000, President Lincoln's Cottage was named as one of the 11 Most Endangered Places in America by the National Trust for Historic Preservation. In partnership with the Armed Forces Retirement Home, and thanks to generous public and private financial support, the National Trust led the efforts to restore this National Historic Landmark and develop innovative and award-winning programs to interpret Lincoln's presidency. The exterior restoration was completed in April 2005 and the Site opened to the public in February 2008.
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President Lincoln's Cottage Blog
Behind the Scenes: The Making of “I See the President”
By Shira Gladstone
Despite having years of experience in visitor education at numerous historic house museums, until recently I had never created a school program from start to finish. So when Callie Hawkins, Curator of Education at President Lincoln’s Cottage, asked me last year to co-create a new school program with her for our site I [...]
“I See the President” And Now, So Can You!
By Callie Hawkins
President Lincoln’s Cottage is pleased to announce the launch of “I See the President”, its newest education program for students in grades 4 and 5.
In this exciting, interactive program, students are split into four groups which represent the people who Lincoln passed on his daily commute from the Soldiers’ Home to the White House. [...]
Tim Burton, Lincoln, and Vampires?
By Katie Needham
Yes, it’s true—President Abraham Lincoln may soon be fighting vampires on the silver screen. Director Tim Burton has just purchased the film rights to Seth Grahame-Smith’s newly released book, Abraham Lincoln: Vampire Hunter.
The book, released this month, follows the life story of Lincoln, from childhood to presidency, with the added twist that Lincoln [...]
