Abraham Lincoln
Abraham Lincoln is making a comeback. I’m not quite sure he ever really went away, but Hollywood & authors alike seem to be lauding this Founding Father more today than in recent memory. You’ve got Abraham Lincoln: Vampire Hunter hitting theaters this weekend based on the fictional book by Seth Grahame-Smith (side note: I’ve read the book and it’s a ton of fun mixed in with some historical facts), Steven Spielberg is making a movie about Lincoln starring Daniel Day Lewis, and several fictional & historical books have been released about his years growing up & his term in office.
But one of the first things I remember learning about Abraham Lincoln is that he lived in a log cabin. As a boy I thought, what could be better than a home made entirely out of wood? So in honor of Lincoln’s new status as a vampire slaying pop culture icon, here’s a look at some of the places our 16th President called home:
Lincoln’s Birthplace in Hodgenville, Kentucky
Lincoln’s Birthplace in Hodgenville, KY
So the log cabin you learned about is no longer outside. It’s actually a replica that’s housed inside the Lincoln Birthplace National Historic Site. Talk about your modest homes, this residence is 13×17 feet and contains one door, one window, a fireplace and a dirt floor. Great men often come from humble beginnings.
Knob Creek Farm
Knob Creek Farm in Hodgenville, KY
This farm house is the one that Lincoln often mentioned as the place he most remembers as a child. Abraham Lincoln was 2 years old when his parents moved to this 230 acre farm land because it had fertile soil for the Lincolns to farm. The original home was torn down back in 1870, but this replica was reconstructed in 1930. Looks like log cabins can stand the test of time.
Lincoln Home National Historic Site
Home of Abraham & Mary Todd Lincoln in Springfield, IL
This home in downtown Springfield, IL was the early home for Abraham and Mary Todd Lincoln. History tells us they bought the home for a mere $1,200 and some land from Rev. Charles Dresser who was also the person that married them just two years before. The home was originally smaller than what you see pictured, but the Lincolns had some additions made to it to accommodate for their growing family.
Willard Hotel in Washington DC
Willard Hotel in Washington, D.C.
So the obvious next home would be the White House, but a little known fact is that Lincoln actually stayed at the Willard Hotel prior to his presidential inauguration. In fact, Lincoln arrived here a bit earlier than expected when an assassination plot was uncovered and he was diverted from some appearances in Baltimore and instead sent to D.C. sooner than expected. The Willard Hotel was Lincoln’s residence for about 10 days prior to his inauguration and used the hotel as his home base for selecting cabinet members and is the place where Lincoln wrote his inaugural address. According to Abraham Lincoln Online, today the hotel maintains a small historical display in a hallway just inside the northeast entrance where you can see a copy of Lincoln’s $773.75 hotel bill which he paid with his first paycheck as president.
For more info on Abraham Lincoln, visit Abraham Lincoln Online.
Photos courtesy of AbrahamLincolnOnline.org
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