If my name ever goes into history, it will be for this act, and my whole soul is in it.
— A. Lincoln, 1863The Cottage Interior
The Cottage displays various approaches to preservation and interpretive room treatment. A few rooms have been fully furnished to evoke how it appeared when the Lincoln family lived here, based on available primary resources and understanding of the Lincolns' taste and the nature of seasonal homes that are minimally furnished. Other rooms have been preserved as a backdrop for understanding the complexity and significance of Lincoln and his presidency.
The Cottage itself is authentic, providing a direct connection to the past. Whenever possible, the existing historic means of managing light, heat, cold, and ventilation are used in order to enhance the authenticity of the public experience and preserve the principle artifact—the Cottage.
The environmental conditions within the wall cavities and the range of temperatures and relative humidity levels are well within acceptable limits for care of the building fabric and visitor comfort, though certain exterior conditions including high humidity and extremely high pollen count, necessitate using HVAC even on some days with mild temperatures to ensure the safety and comfort of our visitors.