Touring Mr. Lincoln's House

Abraham Lincoln was born and raised in a one-room log cabin; Mary Todd was born and raised in a fourteen-room house.

After renting a small house during their first year of marriage, the couple purchased their first and only house.

In May of 1844, Abraham, Mary, and their first baby son, Robert, moved into a one-and-a-half-story cottage - a house which they eventually expanded into two stories, and a home where they raised their family for seventeen years.

Because of Lincoln's unique spot in history, his home is much-photographed -- and has been for nearly a century and a half.

This story, based on photography by the U.S. National Park Service, shows the home over the years -- and then offers a tour of the home inside, as it appears today. If you'd like to visit the house yourself, here is a page of information to help with planning.

The house today reflects the Lincoln Home of 1860. By that date, the Lincoln family numbered five - Abraham, Mary, Willie, and Tad, although for much of that year, Robert was away at preparatory school.

The Lincoln house in 1860

Options: Tour the house ~~ See the house over the years