We are truly delighted, with this retreat... and each day, brings its visitors.
— Mary Lincoln, 1862Frequently Asked Questions
How do I visit President Lincoln’s Cottage?
Because President Lincoln’s Cottage is located on the grounds of the Armed Forces Retirement Home, please follow these guidelines when planning a visit:
- For ticket information and to purchase a ticket, click here.
- Groups of 10 or more must fill out the online application form here.
- All tours are guided and space is limited. We cannot guarantee entry to President Lincoln’s Cottage without a reservation.
- Bring photo identification and your ticket(s).
- Arrive 15 minutes before your tour is scheduled to start and check-in at the Visitor Education Center.
- Tours begin promptly on the hour and we cannot guarantee a spot on the next tour if you are late.
Is photography permitted?
Flash photography, videocameras, and tripods are prohibited in both buildings. If the flash on your hand-held camera is disabled, you may take photos for personal use in the Visitor Education Center permanent galleries. All photography is prohibited in the Cottage and Visitor Education Center Special Exhibit Gallery.
Professional photography, filming, and photography for publication purposes must be scheduled in advance, requires written permission from the Curator, and is subject to fees.
Are strollers permitted?
Strollers are prohibited inside President Lincoln's Cottage but are permitted in the Visitor Education Center. Interpreters will instruct you where you may park the stroller before touring the Cottage.
Are the Cottage and Visitor Center accessible?
The Robert H. Smith Visitor Education Center is accessible by our east entrance ramp. All exhibits and visitor restrooms are on the first floor. The Cottage is accessible by a grade entrance, elevator and wheel chair lift. There are restrictions on use and a staff member must be present to operate the elevator and lift, so please alert the Guest Reception/Museum Store attendant when you check-in if you require use of the elevator and lift so that we may properly assist you.
What is President Lincoln’s Cottage?
President Lincoln's Cottage at the Soldiers' Home in Washington, DC is the most significant historic site directly associated with Abraham Lincoln’s presidency aside from the White House. The 34-room Gothic Revival style house is located three miles north of the White House on the grounds of the federally-operated Armed Forces Retirement Home (AFRH). President Lincoln's Cottage is run by the National Trust for Historic Preservation, a private, non-profit organization, through an agreement with the AFRH.
What is there to visit at President Lincoln’s Cottage?
All tours of the Cottage begin in the Robert H. Smith Visitor Education Center and are guide-led. The entire tour lasts approximately 1 hour. In addition, visitors are invited to view the various self-guided exhibits and media presentations in the Robert H. Smith Visitor Education Center.
May I wander the grounds of the Armed Forces Retirement Home?
Visitors to President Lincoln's Cottage are visiting a National Trust Historic Site and are not permitted to wander the grounds of the Armed Forces Retirement Home or into any AFRH buildings. The AFRH may take action against any of our visitors found trespassing on their property.
Why haven’t I ever heard of President Lincoln's Cottage?
After 1950, the historical significance of President Lincoln’s Cottage began to fade from popular history, possibly in part due to increased security and the resulting dimished public access to the Soldiers' Home grounds. In the 1990’s, it was “re-discovered,” and in 1999 the National Trust for Historic Preservation entered into a formal agreement with the Armed Forces Retirement Home to restore the Cottage and open it to the public.
Why is President Lincoln’s Cottage significant?
Abraham Lincoln and his family lived here for a quarter of his presidency. While living here, Lincoln plotted Union wartime strategies, developed his policy of emancipation and determined to include the 13th Amendment abolishing slavery in the Republican platform of 1864. Life at the Soldiers’ Home offered Lincoln a respite from some of the pressures at the White House but also put him in direct contact with the soldiers he met on his daily commute between the White House and the Cottage and contraband camps.
Why did President and Mrs. Lincoln move to the cottage?
The Lincoln family moved to President Lincoln's Cottage in June 1862 to escape the heat, congestion and noise of wartime Washington. They were also grieving the death of their young son Willie who had died in February 1862. They intended to move here in 1861, but the outbreak of the Civil War apparently altered their plans for that year.
When did President Lincoln reside at the cottage?
President Lincoln first visited the Soldiers’ Home three days after his first inauguration on the recommendation of President Buchanan. The Lincoln family moved from the White House to the Cottage between mid-June and early July in 1862, 1863 and 1864, and stayed until the cooler weather of early November. White House staff transported some 19 wagonloads of the family's belongings, including toys, furniture and clothing. Lincoln last visited the Cottage the day before his assassination.
Was the President ever in danger while living at President Lincoln’s Cottage?
While Lincoln remained unconcerned, his wife Mary and Secretary of War Stanton, among others, feared for his safety. John Wilkes Booth plotted to kidnap Lincoln on his commute in late summer of 1864. In August 1864, a sniper attempted to assassinate the President as he traveled by horseback to the Cottage alone late at night. His hat was later retrieved with a bullet hole through the crown. It was also while Lincoln was living at the Cottage that he became the first sitting U.S. President to come under enemy fire. At Fort Stevens, he observed the battle with Jubal Early’s forces as they tried to take Washington. During that battle, the family was evacuated back to the White House in the middle of the night, although both Abraham and Mary visited the Fort during the attacks.
Did the President accept visitors while at the cottage?
While living at the Cottage, the Lincolns were remarkably accessible to the public and entertained both invited guests and unexpected visitors at nearly any time of the day or night. The degree to which the Lincolns lived an ordinary life – free of the formality and security now associated with the presidency – is surprising today. Those who visited the Lincolns, whether at the White House or at the Cottage, commented on President Lincoln's willingness to sit and chat casually with anyone who dropped by.
When was the house built?
The Cottage was built in 1842 in the then-popular Gothic Revival style for George Washington Riggs, a prominent Washington banker. Subsequent additions were made between 1842 and 1848. The entire Cottage as it currently stands was here during Lincoln's time.
How did the U.S. government acquire the property?
In 1851, Riggs sold the house and 256 acres to the federal government, which was preparing to establish a veterans’ retirement home. Between 1851 and 1862, when the Lincolns took up residence, the government had enlarged the Riggs house, built a dormitory for the veterans, and constructed quarters for officers and administrators.
When did the home become a presidential retreat? What presidents resided there?
In 1857, President James Buchanan became the first president to live at the Soldiers' Home. Lincoln resided there for three seasons in 1862, 1863 and 1864. President Rutherford B. Hayes also enjoyed the Soldiers' Home setting, and stayed in President Lincoln’s Cottage during the summers of 1877-80. President Chester A. Arthur stayed there in the winter of 1882 while the White House was being repaired.
When did President Lincoln’s Cottage open?
After a seven-year restoration project, President Lincoln’s Cottage held a Grand Opening Ceremony on February 18, 2008 and opened to the public on February 19, 2008.
May I Host an Event at President Lincoln's Cottage?
President Lincoln's Cottage and the Robert H. Smith Visitor Education Center may be rented for special events and meetings. For information about use of the facilities and rates, please contact Leslie Bouterie, our Events Specialist at PLCEvents@nthp.org
What are the long-term plans for President Lincoln’s Cottage?
The next phase of the project will be the establishment of the Center for the Study of the Lincoln Presidency to gather and disseminate scholarship related to Lincoln’s presidency. Plans for the Center include an integrated web site, teacher training, symposia and publications.
How much did restoring President Lincoln’s Cottage and establishing the Robert H. Smith Visitor Education Center cost?
Over $15 million has been raised by the National Trust for Historic Preservation from individual, corporate and federal sources.
Who funded the restoration of President Lincoln’s Cottage and the Robert H. Smith Visitor Education Center?
Major donors to the Project include Robert H. Smith, the U.S. Congress, United Technologies Corp., Save America’s Treasures, Matthew and Ellen Simmons, the National Endowment for the Humanities, AT&T Foundation, 1772 Foundation, Gilder Lehrman Institute of American History, DC. Commission on the Arts and Humanities, Goldman Sachs, John F.W. Rogers, Mark Taper Foundation, Textron Inc., Winnick Family Foundation, Civil War Preservation Trust, Linda B. Bruckheimer, HGTV, Kiplinger Foundation, National Park Service, PEPCO, and Tourism Cares/Trip Mate Insurance.
How can I get to President Lincoln’s Cottage?
For directions, click here. Note that while corrections have been submitted to MapQuest, Google Maps, Verizon Superpages, some sources still list our mailing address (3700 N. Capitol Street) as our address. That address is not an entrance. See the "Directions" page for details.
What makes the Robert H. Smith Visitor Education Center “green?”
The Robert H. Smith Visitor Education Center is the first National Trust for Historic Preservation Historic Site to receive Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) Certification from the U.S. Green Building Council. The National Trust for Historic Preservation rehabilitated the historic building in a way that minimized adverse environmental impact. This meant restoring as much of the existing fabric of a building as possible, rather than generating new materials and sending the existing materials to a landfill. It also meant updating systems to make them more energy efficient, monitoring indoor environmental quality, and improving storm water management. Securing LEED certification for this building is just one aspect of the National Trust for Historic Preservation’s broader initiative to help decision makers, developers, homeowners and others appreciate how historic preservation can contribute to sustainable design.
About the National Trust for Historic Preservation
The National Trust for Historic Preservation is a non-profit membership organization bringing people together to protect, enhance and enjoy the places that matter to them. The National Trust for Historic Preservation helps revitalize communities, spark economic development and promote environmental sustainability. With headquarters in Washington, DC, six regional offices, 29 historic sites and partner organizations in all 50 states, the National Trust for Historic Preservation provides leadership, education, advocacy and resources to a national network of people, organizations and local communities committed to saving places, connecting us to our history and collectively shaping the future of America's stories.
For more information visit www.nationaltrust.org.
About the Armed Forces Retirement Home
The Armed Forces Retirement Home is an independent federal agency. The Home and the National Trust, which operates President Lincoln's Cottage, are separate entities. The Home is not responsible for the stewardship or operation of President Lincoln's Cottage, and vice versa. For information about the AFRH, please see their website: www.afrh.gov.