We are truly delighted, with this retreat... and each day, brings its visitors.
— Mary Lincoln, 1862Directions
All tours are guided and require ticket purchase. There are limited spaces available per tour, per day. See "Hours & Tickets" to pre-purchase your ticket.
President Lincoln's Cottage is located on the Armed Forces Retirement Home (AFRH) campus in Washington, D.C. The only entrance to the campus is Eagle Gate at the intersection of Rock Creek Church Road NW and Upshur Street NW, 20011. There is no official street address for this gate. NOTE: 3700 North Capitol Street is not an entrance.
Remember, 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.
For GPS or Google Maps Users:
Enter "140 Rock Creek Church Road NW, Washington, D.C. 20011" to map the approximate location of Eagle Gate entrance. Free on-site parking is available. All tours begin in the Visitor Education Center. Please check-in 15 minutes before your tour.
Metro:
All tours begin in the Visitor Education Center. Please check-in 15 minutes before your tour.
RAIL: Georgia Avenue/Petworth (Green & Yellow Lines) is the closest metro stop and is 1 mile from Eagle Gate.
BUS: H8 Metro Bus stops across from Eagle Gate.
If you use the WMATA Trip Planner for your bus or rail travel, enter "SOLDIERS HOME" as your final destination.
Driving from Downtown DC:
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. Free on-site parking is available. All tours begin in the Visitor Education Center. Please check-in 15 minutes before your tour.
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. Free on-site parking is available. All tours begin in the Visitor Education Center. Please check-in 15 minutes before your tour.
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. Free o n-site parking is available. All tours begin in the Visitor Education Center. Please check-in 15 minutes before your tour.
Tip for Cabs:
NOTE: Cabs in DC will change 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 that get lost.