Did you know Abraham Lincoln had a summer cottage? I didn’t!
I recently discovered “The Lincoln Cottage” while perusing Tripadvisor. I was visiting my daughter, Talia, in Washington D.C., and she had asked me if there was anything in particular I wanted to do. I was reviewing my options.
The Lincoln Cottage is a National Historic Landmark and a National Historic Monument. It is located on the grounds of the Armed Forces Retirement Home. It opened to the public on February 18, 2008 after an eight year restoration project.
President Lincoln and his family escaped to the Cottage during the summer months when the heart of D.C. became hot and muggy. In total, the Lincolns lived at the cottage for 13 months during the four years he was president. The Cottage is located about three miles north of the White House.
The Cottage is also located about 4 miles from my daughter’s home. A new-to-us Lincoln attraction and right near her home! It was the perfect activity for Day 2 of my visit. Tickets were $15, and we bought them online in advance. Just as an fyi, the entrance to the site is monitored by a guard shack, and IDs are required for all visitors.
Our tour started in the Visitor Center across the street from the Cottage. Our group was small, only five of us, including the tour guide. Our tour began with a short film and then proceeded across the street, to the Cottage.
Once inside the Cottage, our guide said we were allowed to take pictures as long as we did not use a flash. However, she did ask that any pictures not be posted on social media. So out of respect for the request and for the Lincoln Cottage, I will not post any pictures of the inside of the Cottage. Outside pictures are allowed.
Back in 1857, a Soldiers Home was located on the site, and the commissioner of the home began inviting the president and the secretary of the war to stay in officers’ cottages during the summer months. James Buchanan was the first president to accept, and it’s possible he recommended the Cottage to Lincoln. Other presidents stayed here as well. Eventually, the tradition ended, likely because of the growing residential population of the Soldiers Home.
When President Lincoln lived in the Cottage, he commuted by horseback to the White House, often stopping to talk with troops and with those living in the contraband camps along his route. He passed by the home of Walt Whitman each day, and the two men would exchange bows. During his time at the Cottage, Lincoln crafted the Emancipation Proclamation, and it was during our tour, we learned of the Proclamation’s political strategy.
The Cottage does not have any furniture from its Lincoln years. Herbert Hoover moved the Lincoln furniture to the White House during his presidential term, and other furniture was moved to the Smithsonian. However, the light fixtures, the fireplaces and even portraits of George and Martha Washington which hang on the walls are the same ones that graced the home when the Lincolns lived there.
Abraham Lincoln Presidential Library and Museum
2022
The original floor is still in the Cottage, but has been overlaid by a new floor. However, there is a square cut out where the original floor can be viewed. The library room retains its original wood paneled walls, and ghost lines of where bookshelves once were can be seen. Even though the home is mostly empty, our tour guide filled the rooms and brought its history to life with stories and descriptions from Lincoln’s time.
One such story was a visitor from Great Britain who came to the United States with two purposes in mind. One goal was to see Niagara Falls, and the other goal was to meet the President of the United States, Abraham Lincoln. The visitor did meet Lincoln at his Cottage Home, albeit the president was in his slippers.
I couldn’t help but feel heartache to have learned the Lincolns visited the Cottage on April 13th, 1865, the day before Lincoln was assassinated. They had come to make preparations to spend the coming summer at the Cottage. It would have been their first summer there without the Civil War going on.
After our tour, Talia and I walked about the beautiful, well-groomed grounds, taking pictures and enjoying a sunny Fall day. At one spot, we could even see a faint outline of the United States Capitol Building.
We also noticed a very large tree with a strange looking tree trunk. Later, when we went back to the Visitor Center to view the exhibits there, we asked about that tree.
Yes, that very tree was here during Lincoln’s time. Some good things endure; thank heavens.
I really enjoyed visiting The Lincoln Cottage, and I hope you enjoyed reading my post. Like so often when I visit historical sites, I came away with new knowledge of events and people from long ago. What made it even better was that I was with my daughter, Talia.
Our time at The Lincoln Cottage was done; however, the day was not yet over. There was a little more fun yet to be had. And that, dear reader, will be the subject of my next post.
at The Lincoln Cottage
Chambers on the Road 
Awesome! Quite a cottage I must say!
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thanks, Phil. Yes, it’s pretty large for a cottage. I believe they said there were two additions over the years, but even in the original picture, it is quite large. Lots of history there! Enjoy your day!
LikeLiked by 1 person
You too! Nice warm weather enjoy it while it lasts!
LikeLiked by 1 person
That is indeed an enjoyable story, and I have never heard of the Lincoln Cottage either. This story reminds me so much of Mom and our trips over the years. That is certainly an interesting tree also!
LikeLiked by 1 person
I have lots of good memories with my mom, too. My daughter and I had a couple trips together, and we had said we were going to have a mother/daughter weekend every year. Then Covid hit! Hopefully, we can get back to an annual event. We have to make memories while we still can. The Lincoln Cottage was great!
LikeLiked by 1 person
Did the mural in the Visitor Center picture remind you of the WPA murals in POs? Caught my eye right away!
LikeLiked by 1 person
I didn’t think of WPA murals at the time; but, you are right. It was a beautiful mural. In fact, everyone who takes the tour gets a bookmark – which is the mural. That’s my kind of souvenir!
LikeLike
Interesting, I have never heard of that. I don’t know if I would call it is “cottage”! But it looks like a nice place to get away from the stresses of work. And how neat that President Lincoln could ride his horse back and forth.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Yes, I think it was a retreat for those who stayed there. Our guide said the peaceful Cottage helped Mary Todd Lincoln grieve over the loss of her child, Willy. We were also told Lincoln enjoyed talking with people as he rode into the White House. He liked to ride by himself, but eventually he agreed to an escort. Thanks for your comment, and have a great day!
LikeLiked by 1 person
What an interesting piece of history! I enjoyed reading this as it was something I did not know was there.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Me either! I learned so much visiting there, and I would highly recommend it. Enjoy your day!
LikeLiked by 1 person
What an interesting piece of our history. I never knew it existed but now that I know it definitely goes on the bucket list of places to visit. Thank you for you post about it, I really enjoyed reading it and learning even more about our countries history. And of course the icing on the cake is that you were able to visit it with your daughter. I do hope you can indeed have an annual time together. Enjoy the rest of your visit.
LikeLiked by 1 person
You’re welcome! Of course, there’s even more history than what I put in the post. The exhibits at the Visitor Center were quite interesting as well. I loved it! Thank you for your kind comment and your good wishes. Have a great day!
LikeLike
Lovely we just started our civil war unit.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thank you! Good luck with the Civil War unit. It was such an interesting time in our history!
LikeLiked by 1 person
Yes. we some many excellent books to use with this unit I am so excited.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thanks so much for this informative post, Betty! Your photos are excellent. I love the Lincoln tree! It has so much character, like it’s namesake.
LikeLiked by 1 person
You’re very welcome, Terry. I love all things related to Lincoln. Just so interesting. And yes, that tree had a ton of character! Have a great Sunday!
LikeLiked by 1 person
Now that is my kind of day : visiting somewhere new, a historic background, lovely gardens in which to wander, and creating memories with a daughter. Wonderful post – thank you for sharing:)
LikeLiked by 1 person
You are very welcome. It’s my kind of day, too! Hope you are having a great weekend!
LikeLiked by 1 person
What a fun trip!
LikeLiked by 1 person
It was a really fun trip! Thanks, and have a great Sunday!
LikeLiked by 1 person
I didn’t know about this site, Betty! Loved the interesting post, and I am adding it to our Washington, D.C. “to-do” list. Have a great week!
LikeLiked by 1 person
Glad you like the post! I didn’t know about it either, and neither did my daughter. I hope you have a great week, too.
LikeLiked by 1 person
I never went there! What a fabulous place. Thanks for sharing, and also that nice picture of you and Talia. – Marty
LikeLiked by 1 person
You’re welcome, Marty. And thank you. Hope you’re having a great Sunday!
LikeLiked by 1 person
Well I definitely did not guess that was where you went on Day 2. I had no idea it even existed. Thanks for sharing with us another part of our American history most of did not know about.
LikeLiked by 1 person
You are welcome. I had no idea it existed either!
LikeLiked by 1 person
I’m sure you are glad you picked this option to visit! A lovely place that had to be a pleasant retreat for President Lincoln.
LikeLiked by 1 person
I’m glad, too! And you are very right about it being a pleasant retreat for President Lincoln. The guide also remarked that it was soothing for the Lincolns, especially Mary Todd, as they were mourning the loss of Willy.
LikeLike
[…] our day was winding down. The day had gone by so quickly! We had done so much – first seeing The Lincoln Cottage and then having a fun craft time followed by a delectable dinner and ice cream. I had a wonderful […]
LikeLike
Wow what a fun post. I felt like I was right there with you! Now we need to return to DC (haven’t been there since 2000 or so). And I’ll put the Lincoln cottage on our list of places to visit. I feel certain visiting the sites with your daughter just enhanced your fun! Happy faces in the pictures. 🙂
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thank you! I really enjoy DC. Dan and I visited DC one time in our travel trailer and stayed at Cherry HIll. That was another great campground. There is so much to see and do in DC. We’ve only done a tiny bit. I did enjoy being with my daughter. Enjoy your day!
LikeLiked by 1 person