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Lincoln Home National Historic Site

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Lincoln Home National Historic Site

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07/15/2026

It's a beautiful day in Lincoln's neighborhood! As summer is now in full swing, what better time to highlight another Lincoln neighbor, Reverend Francis Springer.

In 1839, Reverend Springer purchased a lot on the corner of Eighth and Jackson Streets. His home, and what would become the Lincoln Home were built at the same time, right across the street from one another. Reverend Springer was an ordained Lutheran clergyman and is considered the father of Lutheranism in Springfield. He organized the Evangelical Lutheran congregation in September of 1841 and founded the Lutheran Church of Springfield. The first church services were held in his home. Reverend Springer served as clergyman of the church until 1847 when he accepted the presidency of Hillsboro College in Montgomery County, Illinois.

By 1850, Reverend Springer sold his property next to the Lincolns to Charles Arnold for $800. During the Civil War, Reverend Springer served as a chaplain with the 10th IL Volunteer Cavalry and spent much of his service at Fort Smith, Arkansas. While at Fort Smith, he dedicated himself to helping families impacted and displaced by the Civil War. His efforts resulted in hundreds of children receiving help and permanent places to live through Springfield's Home for the Friendless. Reverend Springer continued to teach and assist those in need until his death in 1892.

By 1917, Reverend Springer's early home next to the Lincolns had been encased in brick and siding. By the late 19th and early 20th centuries, a series of families made their homes on his original lot and additions were made to the original structure. By the mid-1990s, restoration on the home began and the original structure was freed, moved back to its original spot, and restored to its 1860s appearance.

Alt Text:
Image 1: A photo of Reverend Francis Springer standing in dress clothes with his hand on the back of a chair.
Image 2: A one-story, gray house that is the restored original structure Reverend Springer lived in near the Lincoln Home.

Image Credits:
1: William Furry
2: NPS

07/05/2026

Join us for a live reading of the Declaration of Independence!
The Declaration’s promise of freedom and equality have special meaning here in central Illinois. For Abraham Lincoln, its words promised that “the weight would be lifted from the shoulders of all men.” For formerly enslaved people like Free Frank and Free Lucy McWorter, it was a promise they struggled to make real for their children and community at New Philadelphia.

When: Wednesday July 8, at 5:00 pm central time.
You can join us at either of two locations!

Lincoln Tomb Oak Ridge Cemetery, 1500 Monument Ave, Springfield, Illinois 62701.
Park Rangers and Illinois Department of Natural Resources staff will have activities beginning at 3:00 pm. They will read the Declaration aloud at 5:00 pm.

New Philadelphia National Historic Site 29766 306 Lane, Barry, Illinois 62312.
Rangers will read the Declaration aloud. Then explore New Philadelphia descendants’ reflections on how New Philadelphia can inspire us to make the Declaration’s ideals real for all people.

Accessibility: if you have specific accessibility needs, like ASL interpretation, please contact us. Call us at 217-492-4241 or email [email protected].

This event is part of the "Sharing the Spirit of America" celebration, initiated by the Hawai'i America250 Commission.

Alt text: A park ranger stands in a meadow and holds up a reproduction copy of the Declaration of Independence.

07/04/2026

Happy Fourth of July! Today signifies the adoption of the Declaration of Independence in the United States, and this year marks the 250th anniversary! Abraham Lincoln spoke of the Declaration of Independence during an impromptu speech he gave at Independence Hall in Philadelphia on February 22, 1861, for George Washington's birthday. In his speech, Lincoln stated, "I have never had a feeling politically that did not spring from the sentiments embodied in the Declaration of Independence." On this day, we celebrate the founding of America and those sentiments embodied in its founding documents.

Alt Text: The two-story tan colored Lincoln Home with patriotic bunting across the front and trees in the background.

Image Credit: NPS

06/05/2026

Thank goodness it's Factual Friday! As a treat for making it through another week, it's time to answer another popular question we get at the Lincoln Home. This week we're diving into the question, "Where did Abraham Lincoln's family come from?"

Abraham Lincoln was born on February 12, 1809, in Hardin County, Kentucky to Thomas Lincoln and Nancy Hanks. Before the Lincolns found themselves in Kentucky, generations of Lincolns moved west across the country in search of more land and opportunity.

Samuel Lincoln arrived in America from England in 1637, settling in Hingham, Massachusetts. Like many colonial families, the Lincolns were farmers. Samuel's descendants moved in search of better farmland in New Jersey, then Pennsylvania, and eventually Virginia. In 1768, John Lincoln moved his family to Virginia and one of his sons, Abraham, settled in the Shenandoah Valley. This Abraham was the grandfather of President Abraham Lincoln.

By 1782, Abraham had moved his family to the Kentucky frontier. Abraham had five children, one of them was Thomas Lincoln, President Abraham Lincoln's father. Lincoln's ancestors followed a similar path many European settlers followed, traveling west to find opportunity and success on the American frontier.

Alt Text:
Image 1: A black and white photo of Thomas Lincoln, President Lincoln's father, sitting in a suit.
Image 2: The symbolic, wooden log cabin at Abraham Lincoln Birthplace National Historical Park in Hodgenville, Kentucky.

Image Credits:
1: Library of Congress
2: NPS

06/02/2026

TUESDAY, June 2, 2026: Due to continued problems with the air-conditioning system, tours inside the Lincoln Home have been cancelled for the day. The Visitor Center is open until 5:00. Staff will provide ranger talks using images of the Lincoln Home interior in the Visitor Center theater.

06/01/2026

MONDAY, June 1, 2026: Due to high internal temperatures inside the Lincoln Home, tours have been cancelled for the rest of the day.

05/31/2026

Last month, Lincoln Home hosted an animal adoption event with the Animal Protective League (APL) and a B.A.R.K. Ranger event with Looking for Lincoln. We are happy to report that some furry friends found their forever homes! Thank you to everyone who came out to see and play with all the cute cats and dogs and a huge thanks to the APL and Looking for Lincoln for their support. We were also able to swear in many new B.A.R.K. Rangers who learned about the importance of recreating responsibly outdoors. Please enjoy these adorable animal pictures from the event, we certainly did!

Alt Text:
1: A park ranger standing in front of the Lincoln Home and holding a tiny tabby kitten.
2: A park ranger crouching next to a black dog with trees and greenery in the background.
3: A man smiling and holding a B.A.R.K. Ranger badge and certificate with a black dog next to him.
4: Two people and a small tan and white dog sitting behind a table advertising the B.A.R.K. Ranger program.
5: Two small tabby kittens in a kennel.

Image Credits: NPS

Looking For Lincoln Animal Protective League

05/04/2026

Due to a local 5K race, SATURDAY, MAY 9 from 7:30-11:30 am, 7th Street, the street leading to both Lincoln Home parking lots will be closed and there will be no parking on site. Street parking will also not be available along 7th St.

04/29/2026

Welcome to the neighborhood! Today we are meeting another one of Abraham Lincoln's neighbors, Jared P. Irwin.

In 1837, the Illinois General Assembly authorized the state capital of Illinois to be moved from Vandalia to Springfield. A new Capitol building was designed and set to be constructed in the recently minted capital city of Springfield. Irwin moved from Philadelphia, Pennsylvania to Springfield around this time. He was a bricklayer and stone mason and found work assisting in the construction of the new Capitol building (known today as the Old State Capitol), pictured here.

Irwin wrote in his daily diary about his experiences working on the building, "June 22, 1837. I this day commenced laying the foundation of the Capitol, or State House, at $2.50 pr. day." He also wrote entries about the different groups that passed through Springfield on their way to land west of the Mississippi. After the construction of the Capitol building was completed, Irwin moved back to Philadelphia and got married. In the 1850s, he returned to Springfield with his wife and moved into a home down the street from the Lincoln family. The home is no longer standing, but thanks to Irwin's diary, we can learn about the things he saw and people he encountered while working on a historic Illinois building.

Alt Text: A large stone building with many windows and a white cupola with a red dome. This is the Old State Capitol building in present day.

Image Credit: NPS

04/24/2026

No better day than a Factual Friday! This week we are answering a peculiar question, "What did money look like when Lincoln was president?"

If you have seen a U.S. $5 bill since 1914, you have seen Abraham Lincoln's face looking back at you. But who was on the money when Lincoln was president? Lincoln's time as a face on American money actually began in 1861 while he was president. To finance the Civil War, the U.S. Department of Treasury began issuing Demand Notes, the first paper money widely circulated by the U.S. government. Demand Notes, also called 'greenbacks" because of the green ink printed on the back, came in denominations of $5, $10, and $20 and were essentially government IOUs redeemable in gold or silver "upon demand" at specific banks across the country. Lincoln appeared on the $10 Demand Note, as seen here.

In 1862, the U.S. switched from Demand Notes to United States notes. These notes were used until 1971 and were also nicknamed "greenbacks". United States notes were issued longer than any other U.S. paper money. In 1913, the Federal Reserve Act was passed which established the Federal Reserve as the nation's central bank and the Federal Reserve Note as the nation's new currency. United States notes and the new Federal Reserve Note overlapped in use for over 50 years. The Federal Reserve Note is what is still printed and used in the U.S. today. Reprising his role on U.S. currency, Lincoln appeared on the $5 bill starting in 1914.

Alt Text: United States $10 Demand Note printed with green ink and a portrait of Abraham Lincoln on the left, an eagle in the middle, and a statue representing art on the right.

Image Credit: U.S. Department of the Treasury

Address

426 S 7th Street
Springfield, IL
62701

Opening Hours

Monday	9am - 5pm
Tuesday	9am - 5pm
Wednesday	9am - 5pm
Thursday	9am - 5pm
Friday	9am - 5pm
Saturday	9am - 5pm
Sunday	9am - 5pm

Telephone

+12174924241

Website

http://www.nps.gov/liho

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