This is a big month for the National Park Service (NPS). Not
only will the NPS celebrate its 104th birthday on August 25th,
Lincoln Home will also celebrate its 49th anniversary of joining the
NPS family and becoming Illinois’ first national park on August 18th.
Keep reading for a little history on both the Lincoln Home
and the National Park Service and to find all the fun things you and your
family can participate in from the comfort of your own home to help them
celebrate.
The home, a small, humble 1½ story cottage, was built on
the corner of 8th & Jackson streets in 1839. In 1844, the
Lincoln’s purchased the house from its first owner, coincidentally, the
Reverend that married the two, a year prior. The couple and their oldest
son, Robert, moved in and made the house their home! Later, they would welcome
three more Lincoln boys, Eddie, Tad and Willie. With the growth of their
family, the Lincoln’s expanded their home by adding a full 2nd story
in 1856.
The family lived here for 17 years, ultimately becoming the only home
the Lincolns ever owned.
When the Lincolns
departed for Washington they rented out their home, leaving many items in
storage, as it was their intention to return to Springfield after Lincoln’s
presidency. After Abraham’s assassination in 1865, the home would remain a
rental property until 1887 when Robert Lincoln donated the home to the State of
Illinois to be preserved and protected for future generations. Robert’s only
stipulation was that the home remain open to the public and free to all who
visit.
Although Lincoln
Home was open to visitors, available for filming of movies, and for
presidential pilgrimages, the area continued to be modernized instead of
historically preserved. Streets were being paved and street lights, fire
hydrants and electric lines were being added to the landscape. The fate of
Lincoln Home would change, however, when on August 18, 1971 President Richard
Nixon signed authorization making Lincoln Home part of the National Park
Service.
Beginning in 1987, the home was closed and the NPS started
work to restore the home back to its original 1860s appearance. Along with the
home being restored, the 4 square block, 12 acre neighborhood surrounding the
home itself was restored as well. The Lincoln Home restoration was completed in
1988 and the NPS reopened the Lincoln Home to the public on June 16, 1988. It
still, to this day, remains open to the public offering free tours on a daily
basis, a visitors center with a film on the life of Lincoln and a bookstore for
fun souvenirs, books and gifts. (Currently closed due to COVID-19)
The National Park Service will celebrate its 104th
Birthday this month!! Happy Birthday to YOU! The NPS was established and
entrusted with the care of our national parks when President Woodrow Wilson
signed the legislation on August 25, 1916.
The NPS challenges you to #FindYourPARK! A program designed
to encourage individuals to find their personal connections to the national
parks around the nation by getting up, getting out and finding your own park.
Taking a Tour Although the Lincoln Home is currently closed due to COVID-19,
the NPS still wants you to be able to experience this historic treasure! How
you ask?? A virtual tour…take your tour today by clicking
here.
Take a tour the neighborhood
here and don’t miss a virtual Museum Tour as well, that takes a look at the
artifacts throughout the home that tell the story of the Lincoln family. You
can do that
here.
Junior Ranger Program
The Lincoln Home offers a Junior Ranger Program for all their young visitors where they can learn about Lincoln and at the end of the program, earn a Junior Ranger badge. During this time, however, your little one can still become a Junior Ranger virtually, yep, how cool is that?? Check out how they can earn their very own badge
here.
Get Social with the Lincoln Home
On their
Facebook page you can enjoy “Trivia Tuesday” every Tuesday and a weekly “At Home with the Lincolns” which are stories of the Lincoln Home told by Park Rangers.