Lincoln Home National Historic SiteAbout Lincoln Home National Historic Site
Lincoln Home National Historic Site preserves the Springfield, Illinois residence where Abraham Lincoln lived with his family from 1844 until he left for the presidency in 1861. The site interprets Lincoln’s domestic life and the surrounding mid-19th-century neighborhood.
The principal feature is Lincoln’s two-story brick house, furnished and interpreted to reflect the period, with ranger-led interior tours available. The broader historic district contains multiple restored houses that maintain the look and context of Lincoln’s neighborhood.
The home served as Lincoln’s family residence during his rise in state and national politics, and preservation work has focused on retaining the mid-19th-century streetscape and domestic context for visitors.
The site is in central Springfield, within the city’s historic district and easily reached from downtown attractions and transport links.
- Lincoln residency: Lincoln lived in the house from 1844 until 1861, and it is the only home Abraham Lincoln ever owned, preserved within a larger historic district.
What to See#
- Lincoln Home: Abraham Lincoln’s restored two-story brick house in Springfield, interpreted with period furnishings and presented via guided tours led by park staff.
- Historic district homes: An adjacent historic district of restored mid-19th-century houses that preserves the neighborhood context where Lincoln and his family lived before his presidency.
Nearby Attractions to Lincoln Home National Historic Site
Best Time to Visit Lincoln Home National Historic Site
Visit between late spring and early fall for the best combination of weather and full interpretive programming.
Weather & Climate near Lincoln Home National Historic Site
Lincoln Home National Historic Site's climate is classified as Hot-Summer Continental - Hot-Summer Continental climate with hot summers (peaking in July) and freezing winters (coldest in January). Temperatures range from -8°C to 31°C. Moderate rainfall (930 mm/year).
| Month | Comfort | Temp | Feels | Rain | Sky | Humidity | Wind | UV | Daylight |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| January | - | -8° - 1° | -9° | 42 mm | - | - | 4.5 m/s | - | - |
| February | - | -6° - 4° | -5° | 45 mm | - | - | 4.4 m/s | - | - |
| March | - | 0° - 11° | 3° | 81 mm | - | - | 4.8 m/s | - | - |
| April | - | 6° - 18° | 12° | 92 mm | - | - | 4.8 m/s | - | - |
| May | - | 12° - 24° | 18° | 106 mm | - | - | 3.9 m/s | - | - |
| June | - | 17° - 29° | 23° | 98 mm | - | - | 3.3 m/s | - | - |
| July | - | 19° - 31° | 25° | 92 mm | - | - | 2.8 m/s | - | - |
| August | - | 18° - 30° | 24° | 88 mm | - | - | 2.6 m/s | - | - |
| September | - | 13° - 27° | 20° | 80 mm | - | - | 2.9 m/s | - | - |
| October | - | 7° - 20° | 13° | 67 mm | - | - | 3.6 m/s | - | - |
| November | - | 1° - 11° | 3° | 73 mm | - | - | 4.3 m/s | - | - |
| December | - | -5° - 4° | -5° | 66 mm | - | - | 4.3 m/s | - | - |
How to Get to Lincoln Home National Historic Site
Lincoln Home National Historic Site is in downtown Springfield, Illinois, within walking distance of many downtown hotels and attractions. From Chicago it’s roughly a 200‑mile drive southwest on I‑55 (about 3.5-4 hours). The site is walkable from Springfield’s local bus stops and a short drive from the city’s Amtrak station or regional transit - parking and visitor drop‑off are available near the site.
Tips for Visiting Lincoln Home National Historic Site
- Pick up same-day guided tour tickets at the Lincoln Home National Historic Site visitor center early in the morning-the house tours are ranger-led and fill, so early arrival is the best way to guarantee a spot.
- After the house tour, walk the preserved neighborhood streets and visit the nearby Old State Capitol and Lincoln Home grounds; many visitors treat the house as a single stop and miss the broader historic district context.