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Lincoln Home National Historic Site, Springfield, IL

Photo: Daniel Schwen, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons. Cropped and resized.

SightseeingIconicHistory BuffFree

Lincoln Home National Historic Site

426 S 7th St · Springfield, IL

Why you should go…

Abraham Lincoln lived in this twelve-room house from 1844 to 1861, and it is the only home he ever owned. The National Park Service has restored it to its 1860 appearance, and rangers lead tours through both floors. Pick up a free tour ticket at the visitor center desk on South Seventh Street, then walk the four surrounding blocks of period houses. Tickets can run out on busy days between March and November, so arrive early.

  • #abraham lincoln
  • #national historic site
  • #historic home
  • #guided tour
  • #presidential history

Good to know

General sightseeing guidance

Habits that pay off across this whole category, not rules for this one venue. Always check the official site for the specifics.

  • The forecast is part of the ticket

    Haze, low cloud, and rain flatten a view. Clear-day visits are worth rearranging your plans for.

  • Golden hour sells out first

    Sunset slots at observation decks and cruises are the first to go, so book those further ahead.

  • Dress a layer warmer

    It is always breezier up high and out on the water than it feels at street level.

  • Timed entry is common

    Plenty of landmarks release tickets in windows rather than at the door, so check before you walk over.

What's around here?

The closest stops to Lincoln Home National Historic Site, ordered by straight-line distance. A few more like it, plus some different kinds of fun so you can build a full day.

  • Sightseeing
    History Buff

    Dana-Thomas House

    Free

    You take a guided tour of a 35-room Frank Lloyd Wright Prairie house filled with his original art glass and furniture in Springfield.

    0.4 mi awayMore like this

  • Museums
    Iconic

    Abraham Lincoln Presidential Library and Museum

    Under $25

    Walk through life-size scenes of Lincoln's boyhood cabin and White House years, then see original documents.

    0.4 mi awaySwitch it up: Museums

  • Sightseeing
    Iconic

    Lincoln Tomb

    Free

    Walk through the granite tomb in Oak Ridge Cemetery where Abraham Lincoln, his wife and three of their sons are buried.

    1.9 mi awayMore like this