United States
Illinois (IL)
Springfield
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Lincoln Home National Historic Site
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Lincoln Home National Historic Site

See all things to do
See all things to do
Lincoln Home National Historic Site
4.5
#4 of 73 things to do in Springfield
Historic SitesHistory Museums
8:30 AM - 5:00 PM
Monday
8:30 AM - 5:00 PM
Tuesday
8:30 AM - 5:00 PM
Wednesday
8:30 AM - 5:00 PM
Thursday
8:30 AM - 5:00 PM
Friday
8:30 AM - 5:00 PM
Saturday
8:30 AM - 5:00 PM
Sunday
8:30 AM - 5:00 PM
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About
The only house Abraham Lincoln ever owned is the centerpiece of this four-block historic neighborhood. Lincoln and his family lived in the two-story house from 1844 until 1861, when their address changed to the White House.
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66 within 6 miles
The Lincoln Home Visitor Center
69
340 ftHistory Museums
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4,602
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See what travelers are saying
  • NatParkLove
    Peoria, Illinois1,831 contributions
    Great educational visit
    We had a great day exploring the Lincoln home and other historic buildings. There is a small parking lot right by the visitor center which is $2/hour or you can find street parking. The visitor center has restrooms, a small gift shop where you can also get your passport stamp, and two theaters, one of which was showing a movie periodically. To tour the Lincoln home, you need to get free tickets from the ranger at the visitor center. We were here on a Thursday around the holidays and showed up at 11 AM. We were able to get tickets for the noon tour. I think there are tours every 15 min or so. On busier days, I'm sure there may be longer waits for the next available tour. While we waited, we walked around the "neighborhood" and self-toured the two buildings you are able to self-tour. I highly recommend taking a guided tour of the home so you can experience it and learn from the knowledgeable rangers who give the tours. They limit them to about 15 people a tour, which is good because the historic home has very tight walkways and is rather crowded once you get in there. The tour guide points out the furniture that is original to the house and shares many stories about Lincoln.
    Visited December 2022
    Written December 29, 2022
  • Jerry W
    49 contributions
    Historical home of Lincoln
    We visited this historic site on a recent road trip. It is easy to find with gps and a parking lot is located adjacent to the visitor center which is where you pay the $2.00 fee for parking. Be sure to go into the visitor center which is where you get your free tickets for the tour of Lincoln’s home. The tour of the home lasted about 20 minutes and was interesting. There are also other preserved homes on the street which we were unable to visit due to our own time constraints.
    Visited December 2022
    Traveled as a couple
    Written December 30, 2022
  • SteveK28762
    Worcestershire, United Kingdom95 contributions
    Really interesting and well worth a visit.
    There's something about the fact that you're so close to something that has such a huge part in America's history. Trying to imagine Abraham Lincoln in this house is incredible. Lots of information and the whole place is really interesting. Would thoroughly recommend. Note: we were on foot, and finding the place (or even a local who could direct us) was not the easiest task.
    Visited September 2022
    Written January 10, 2023
  • 2doglady
    Tennessee887 contributions
    Great Tour Guide
    We so enjoyed our tour of the Lincoln Home National Historic Sight. The NPS ranger did a great job on the tour. You know they do these tours over and over but this guy was still very interesting and gave such good information. You park at the Visitor Center and must have a ticket for the tour although it is free. You pay $2 to park ( pay inside at the information desk where you get your tour tickets). You will walk about a block to the house and the guided tour begins. The house has many original items from the Lincolns and the tour information was very interesting. There are other houses you can see in the neighborhood as well. There is also a small gift shop inside the Visitor Center if you want books or souvenirs. Highly recommended stop!
    Visited February 2023
    Traveled as a couple
    Written February 5, 2023
  • Sydney
    Saint Louis, Missouri211 contributions
    Great NHS but it's a school group magnet
    I came with my family on a Lincoln Tour and this was our first stop. We arrived right when it opened, but we couldn't get tickets for a tour until later in the afternoon because school groups were coming through practically all day. The actual tour was great and there's so much to see inside the Home. Plus, I learned new things! Nice Visitor Center with an informative video also.
    Visited May 2022
    Written March 4, 2023
  • drwatson32
    Shawnee, Oklahoma1,041 contributions
    Informative visit
    We enjoyed this stop. Pro tip: Street parking is free! They charge $2 per hour to park in the national park parking lot. They estimate the time, so we were charged $4. We had to wait about an hour to join a tour group. We had a ranger-in-training who seemed knowledgeable. He deferred to another ranger when he didn't know an answer. There are several other houses to explore in the area as well.
    Visited March 2023
    Traveled with family
    Written March 18, 2023
  • Martin
    Chicago, Illinois6 contributions
    Excellent!
    My wife and family and I visited a few weeks back and we were astounded by our guide. Late in the day, cold, and probably having done at least three tours prior, you might have assumed that your docent might be a tad…tired? Not Jasmine! She gave us a really stellar tour and I enjoyed getting to “know” President Lincoln in a much more in depth way. Jasmine answered question after question and really wrapped up with a wonderful and inspiring finish to her tour. We will definitely be back!
    Visited March 2023
    Traveled as a couple
    Written March 23, 2023
  • tribuckblessed
    Columbus, Ohio161 contributions
    Awesome experience!
    Felt amazing to actually see and experience the exact home and many original furnishings of the Lincoln family! Our tour guide was great - pleasant and very informative. Learned a lot that we didn't know before!
    Visited May 2023
    Written May 16, 2023
  • Alicia M
    Monticello, Minnesota88 contributions
    A great stop
    This has changed so much since the 90’s when I was last there. It is free, which is nice. You sign up for a scheduled group tour and if you need to wait you can go through the area with the houses a couple you can go into but it is a nice area to see the history. Our tour guide seemed to have special needs and he did a great job and was funny and informative. We got to see the singers that are there a few times a week and they were great. If your interested in Lincoln history this is a high recommended stop. Our family has made a point to try to see as much Lincoln history as we can and did not regret going.
    Visited June 2023
    Traveled with family
    Written June 17, 2023
  • ChelH
    Grand Rapids, Michigan114 contributions
    Amazing!
    This was our second time visiting. We visited six years ago when our kids were much littler. We absolutely love it here. This time around the kids got to play with toys that they would’ve played with back in the day. They also toured the house & met Abraham Lincoln and Mary Todd Lincoln who were roaming around that day and they got to listen to his farewell speech. What an awesome experience!!
    Visited June 2023
    Traveled with family
    Written June 18, 2023
These reviews are the subjective opinion of Tripadvisor members and not of TripAdvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews.
Detailed Reviews: Reviews order informed by descriptiveness of user-identified themes such as cleanliness, atmosphere, general tips and location information.
Popular mentions
4.5
2,886 reviews
Excellent
2,225
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Average
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mehtas2018
Nanuet, NY36 contributions
Wonderful Historic home
Apr 2019 • Family
The only house Abraham Lincoln ever owned is the centerpiece of this four-block historic neighborhood. Lincoln and his family lived in the two-story house from 1844 until 1861

This is a free guided tour. Our tour guide was amazing!
Written March 23, 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
LaurenFromMich
Canton, MI79 contributions
Home is open again for tours !
Jun 2021 • Couples
Lincoln’s home is once again open for tours. It was nice to see the home where Lincoln spent a majority of his adult life. The home has original pieces mixed in with others. Cost is free, but you do need tickets which you can get at the visitor center. Small groups go at a time. National Park service guides are knowledgeable. Worth a visit.
Written June 13, 2021
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Trish W
McMurray, PA950 contributions
Wonderful Tour and Videos
Oct 2021 • Couples
This is an excellent tour of Lincoln's home where he lived and raised his family for 17 years. There is so much to learn in the 3 short films and 30 minute tour of the house where much of the furnishings are original. There is no charge for the tour which is amazing. Since the films start on the hour for one and half hour for the other two, I suggest you watch them first and sign up for the closest tour following them. Tours are limited to about 15 people but that is a lot inside the house and you are not social distanced. Masks are required in the building and Lincoln's home. Afterwards, you can stroll through Lincoln's neighborhood where a number of neighboring homes have been restored. This is a must-do if you are in Springfield, IL.
Written October 3, 2021
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Taylor B
Chicago, IL8,751 contributions
Lincoln's home from 1844 to 1861
Nov 2021
A trip to Springfield, Illinois, always includes obligatory visits to the Abraham Lincoln Presidential Library and Museum, the Lincoln Home National Historic Site and Lincoln's Tomb in Oak Ridge Cemetery. The home and related historic district where Lincoln lived from 1844 to 1861, before becoming the 16th President of the United States, includes the four blocks surrounding the home and a visitor center. Located at 413 South Eighth Street at the corner of Jackson Street, it was the only home that Lincoln ever owned. Three of his four sons were born there and one died there. The two-story Greek Revival house, which was designated a National Historic Landmark in 1960 and added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1966, contains 12 rooms. There also is an outdoor privy. Painted white with green shutters, the house has been beautifully restored to its 1860 appearance. Curiously, although Lincoln's wife loved flowers, neither she nor her husband were known as gardeners, didn't devote much effort to landscaping the grounds and never planted trees. Lincoln's son, Robert Todd Lincoln, donated the family home to the State of Illinois in 1887 under the condition that it would forever be well maintained and open to the public at no charge. The home and adjacent district became a National Historic Site in 1971. The Lincoln Depot, from which Lincoln left the city for Washington DC and his 1961 inauguration, is located a few blocks away. The house is open daily from 8:30 to 5.
Written November 17, 2021
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
valliam13
Sorrento, FL392 contributions
Great Park Ranger Led Tour
Sep 2021 • Couples
The park ranger was great and very knowledgeable. She was able to answer a lot of the questions people had and was engaging with the guests. The home was quite interesting. We didn’t realize there are more homes to tour as part of this NPS site so make sure you give yourself a few hours here. We want to come back when we have more time.
Written September 19, 2021
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Sridhar
Eden Prairie, MN376 contributions
Must See!
Dec 2021
1. National Park Services(NPS) offer free guided tours of the Lincoln Home.
2. You get to see the dining room, living room, bed room etc.
3. Photography inside the home is permitted.
4. Admission to tour the house is free. You can reserve your spot by contacting an agent in the Visitor Center. Our tour lasted for 20 minutes and was very insightful.
Written January 2, 2022
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Marilou D
Elmwood Park, IL176 contributions
Learned a lot
Sep 2021 • Friends
Very fascinating learning about interesting facts about Lincoln and how he and his family lived . It was cool touching the same stair railings he touched and walking in the neighborhood as if it was in the late 1800s. It is a small house in today’s standard. Our ranger was very knowledgeable. We got our tickets (got there at 2pm on a weekday for 3:45 pm tour slot) at the visitors center. So maybe get there earlier to get tickets as they only took about 15 people at a time and it’s every 15 min. So we went to the Lincoln museum (a few blocks away) to kill time. Website said $2/ hr for parking but the visitors center said it’s free (there was no gate to enter the lot).
Written September 7, 2021
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
CarpeDiem0212
Cypress Gardens, FL237 contributions
Mr. Lincoln’s Home and Neighborhood are a Priceless Treasure
Aug 2021
My wife and I recently went to Lincoln’s Home to learn more about Abraham Lincoln, his family, and career in Springfield. The Lincoln Home is run by the National Park Service. They are responsible for the tours of the Lincoln home and development of Mr. Lincoln’s Neighborhood which are all the homes around it. The National Park Service created a one square block area of restoring the area around the Lincoln Home to make it look as real as when he lived there. They even brought in many homes that were of the period and restored them to their radiant beauty. They did an outstanding job with the Lincoln’s Home and the many historic homes around it.

We went to the Visitors Center and signed in for a free tour which is offered every half hour. While waiting for our tour to begin, we saw a short video about what life was like for the Lincoln family in Springfield. Richard was our docent for our tour of the home. He was very friendly and knowledgeable about Lincoln, his family and about the various artifacts in the house. There are a lot of the original pieces of furniture in the home. Richard told us many stories about what life was like for the Lincoln family. He also told us about the history of the home and how the Park Service developed the area. He did an Outstanding job on the tour and even answered everyone’s questions once we concluded our tour of the home.

Afterwards, we toured several of the restored homes in the neighborhood. It was fascinating. You really got to feel like you were right there in Lincoln’s neighborhood with his Home right there.

This is a U.S. Treasure because of the great authenticity that the Park Service has gone to to preserve Lincoln’s home and the community. We highly recommend that you spend time touring his home and his neighborhood. You will learn much about him, his family and the history of the home. The Park Service did a Superb job! Go and see it and you will be amazed by the man, his story and his home.
Written September 9, 2021
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Badger Traveler
Madison, WI193 contributions
See How Lincoln Lived His Days Before the Presidency
Nov 2021 • Couples
We recently visited mid-week and took the 9:00 a.m. free tour by the volunteer guide. The guide was superb and we got a lot of information and background that we wouldn’t have learned if we had gone through the house on our own. The guide answered every question we asked and delivered the history with energy and enthusiasm. We also visited two other homes in the Lincoln Neighborhood that at present open to the public. These two houses have additional information about the Lincoln home and history. The tour lasts 45 minutes and the visits to the other two homes can be accomplished in a half hour, Parking was conveniently located across the street for free. After visiting the Lincoln Museum, this was a great addition to that experience. My only caution is taking the tour with a full group (which is 14, I believe). The Lincoln Home is large for the times, but the halls and areas where tourists can stand are small. We had 4 in our group and it was perfect. More than 8 would seem too crowded and difficult to view the areas that the guide was referring to. We also viewed the 20-25 minute film, “A Journey to Greatness” and it was excellent—inspiring and uplifting—a great way to end the visit.
Written November 27, 2021
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
TravelingBubba
New Braunfels, TX211 contributions
Great History, nice walk thru the 19th Century
Apr 2021
Fantastic National Historic Site. Unfortunately due to Covid, we visited when the visitor center was closed and the tours were not running. However, the site covers several city blocks in Springfield that have been reconstructed to show life in the 19th century. Although we could not go in,
Written October 15, 2021
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
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