President Lincoln's Cottage

We are truly delighted, with this retreat... and each day, brings its visitors.

— Mary Lincoln, 1862

Hours & Directions

Hours of Operation

Monday - Saturday
Visitor Center: 9:30 AM - 4:30 PM
Cottage Tours: First tour at 10 AM, Last tour at 3 PM

Sunday
Visitor Center: 10:30 AM - 4:30 PM*
Cottage Tours: First Tour at 11 AM, Last tour at 3 PM
*New Sunday hours, effective July 1, 2011
Closed Thanksgiving, Christmas, and New Year's Day

Tour Length

Admission to the Cottage is by guided tour only and requires a tour ticket. Unreserved tour tickets are available on a first come first served basis. Tours begin in the Visitor Education Center and last approximately 1 hour from start to finish.

Directions

Location: President Lincoln's Cottage is located on the Armed Forces Retirement Home (AFRH) campus in northwest Washington, D.C.

Entrance: Eagle Gate is at the intersection of Rock Creek Church Road NW and Upshur Street NW, 20011. This is the only open gate. There is no official street address.

NOTE: 3700 North Capitol Street is not an entrance.

Travel time & Check-in: Time estimates from Metro or online map/directions tools are just that, estimates. Leave yourself plenty of time to account for heavy traffic, construction, and possible road closures and metro delays. Please check-in at the Visitor Education Center 15 minutes prior to your tour.

Parking: Free on-site parking is available.

Bike Rack: A dedicated bike rack is located behind the Visitor Education Center.

For GPS or Google Maps Users:

Enter "140 Rock Creek Church Road NW, Washington, D.C. 20011" to map the approximate location of the Eagle Gate entrance. This is not an official street or mailing address.

Biking to the Cottage:

Staff have outlined two routes available on our official blog (NOTE: both links open a new window).

Biking Directions from Q Street and & 14th Street NW
Lincoln's Commute by Bike (This route starts from the Cottage, but can be done in reverse.)

Metro:

Use the WMATA Trip Planner for all bus or rail travel itineraries.
Enter "SOLDIERS HOME" as your final destination.
Print or transcribe your itinerary and make sure you bring it with you.

RAIL: Georgia Avenue/Petworth (Green & Yellow Lines) is 1 mile from Eagle Gate and is the closest metro station to President Lincoln's Cottage.

BUS: The H8 Metro Bus stops at "Rock Creek Church Rd NW and Upshur Street NW" within feet of the Eagle Gate entrance.

BIKE: Rent a bike from Captial Bike Share, at the intersection of Georgia Avenue and Rock Creek Church Road, across from the metro station. On your bike, follow Rock Creek Church Road to Eagle Gate (about a mile).

TIP: Most bus and rail employees are not familiar with specific tourist attractions along their routes. They will need to know the line, route, and stop you are looking for in order to assist you rather than the name of the site. When in doubt, contact our staff for support (202)-829-0436 x31231.

Driving from Downtown DC:

Drive north on North Capitol Street for approximately 3.2 miles. You will see the Soldiers' Home National Cemetary on your left. At the bottom of the hill, turn left onto Allison Street. Continue onto Rock Creek Church Road, NW. Turn left into Eagle Gate (at the intersection of Rock Creek Church Road and Upshur Street).

Drive north on 16th Street NW or Georgia Avenue NW. Turn right on Upshur Street NW. Upshur Street terminates at Eagle Gate; continue through the gate.

Driving from Maryland:

Take I-495 to Georgia Avenue southbound exit. Travel approximately 5 miles south on Georgia Avenue NW (you're getting close when you pass Buchanan, Allison, and Webster Streets). Turn left on Upshur Street NW. Upshur Street terminates at Eagle Gate; continue through the gate.

Driving from Virginia:

Take I-66 eastbound to Constitution Avenue NW. Turn left on 18th Street NW. Turn right on H Street NW. Turn left on 16th Street NW. Turn right on Upshur Street NW. Upshur Street terminates at Eagle Gate; continue through the gate.

Tip for Cabs:

NOTE: Cabs in DC changed from the Zone system to the Meter system in 2008. http://dctaxi.dc.gov/dctaxi/site/default.asp

State to your driver that you're going to the Armed Forces Retirement Home (aka "Old Soldiers' Home") campus, Eagle Gate entrance. Eagle Gate is the only open gate. Do not let your driver go to 3700 N. Capitol Street--it is not an entrance. Please use common sense: never get into a cab with a driver that is uncertain about where he or she is going. We cannot be held responsible for cab drivers who get lost.