Hours, Tickets, Location, and Directions
Hours
Sunday – Saturday
Visitor Center: 9:30 AM – 4:30 PM
Cottage Tours: First tour at 10 AM
Last tour at 3 PM
Holiday Hours:
Closed Thanksgiving, Christmas, and New Year’s Day.
Early Closing: Christmas Eve (2:30pm, last tour at 1 PM)
Tickets
President Lincoln’s Cottage staff strongly recommends purchasing tickets in advance of your visit. Tickets are required for entry to the Cottage, and advance ticket purchase is the only way to guarantee your spot on a tour. Tickets are nonrefundable and nonexchangeable.
For more about renting a grounds pass, click here.
-Adult: $15
-Children (6-12): $5
-Military (Active Duty and Veterans). Must present valid ID: $12
-President Lincoln’s Cottage Members (2 member-priced tickets per valid ID): $7.50
-National Trust for Historic Preservation Members (2 member-priced tickets per valid ID): $12
Learn more about becoming a member here.
Online purchase is recommended – click button above to purchase. You may also buy your tickets by phone Monday-Friday, 9am-6pm and Saturday, 10am-5pm by calling 1-800-514-ETIX. For Sunday same-day ticket purchase by phone, please contact site staff at 202-829-0436. Etix charges a service and postage fee for tickets mailed by regular post.
Location
President Lincoln’s Cottage is located on the grounds of the Armed Forces Retirement Home (AFRH) in Northwest Washington, D.C. Check-in for tours is in the Robert H. Smith Visitor Education Center, the first building on the left after you enter Eagle Gate. Security for the Armed Forces Retirement Home requires visitors to show valid identification at the security gate in order to enter the property. Please be prepared to show your ID.
Entrance: Visitors to President Lincoln’s Cottage are required to enter the campus through Eagle Gate, located at the intersection of Rock Creek Church Road NW and Upshur Street NW. The street address is approximately 140 Rock Creek Church Road, NW, Washington D.C. 20011. NOTE: The 3700 North Capitol Street address is for mailing purposes only and is not an entrance.
Directions
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, but is close to the intersection of Rock Creek Church Road NW and Upshur Street NW.
Parking
We provide free on-site parking in our visitor lot, located adjacent to the Robert H. Smith Visitor Education Center.
Driving
From Downtown DC:
Drive north on 16th Street NW, 14th Street NW or Georgia Avenue NW for approximately 3 miles. Turn right on Upshur Street NW. Upshur Street terminates at the gate to the Armed Forces Retirement Home; continue through the gate.
OR
From the Capitol, drive north on North Capitol Street for approximately 3 miles. You will see the Soldiers’ Home National Cemetery on your left. At the bottom of the hill, turn left onto Allison Street. Continue onto Rock Creek Church Road, NW. Turn left into the gate at the intersection of Rock Creek Church Road and Upshur Street.
From Maryland:
Take I-495 to Georgia Avenue southbound exit. Travel approximately 5.3 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 the gate to the Armed Forces Retirement Home; continue through the gate.
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 14th Street NW. Travel approximately 3 miles north on 14th Street NW. Turn right on Upshur Street NW. Upshur Street terminates at the gate to the Armed Forces Retirement Home; continue through the gate.
Public Transit
Metro Rail
The Georgia Avenue/Petworth Metro Station (Green & Yellow Lines) is 0.8 miles downhill from Eagle Gate and is the closest metro station to President Lincoln’s Cottage. The station is located at the intersection of Georgia Avenue, New Hampshire Avenue, and Rock Creek Church Road, NW. From the Metro exit, walk south toward Rock Creek Church Road, and then turn left onto Rock Creek Church Road and continue along it for approximately 0.8 miles. Turn right into the gates at the intersection of Upshur Street and Rock Creek Church Road. Alternatively, catch the H8 or 60 buses (see below) from a stop at the intersection of New Hampshire and Georgia Avenue, just south of the Metro exit.
Metro Bus
The H8 Metro Bus stops at “Rock Creek Church Rd NW and Upshur Street NW” (stop #1002986) immediately in front of the Eagle Gate entrance. After exiting the bus, the gate will be on the right-hand side of the road. You may also take the 60 Metro Bus to the stop at Upshur Street and 2nd Street NW (stop #1002359). From there, walk east on Upshur Street towards the Eagle Gate entrance.
TIP: Most Metro Transit 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 x0.
Biking
Bike to the intersection of Upshur Street NW and Rock Creek Church Road NW and come in through the gate. A bike rack is located behind the Robert H. Smith Visitor Education Center for your convenience.
OR
Rent a bike from any Capital Bikeshare station and dock it at the intersection of 9th Street and Upshur Street, NW. From the bike station, walk east on Upshur Street in the direction of 8th Street until you reach the Eagle Gate (about 0.6 miles).
TIP: Only the first 30 minutes of a Capital Bikeshare rental are free after paying the membership fee. Please visit www.capitalbikeshare.com to learn more about using Capital Bikeshare.
UBER
Uber is a global, professional service that allows you to book a taxi, private car or rideshare from your mobile phone. Enter 140 Rock Creek Church Road as your destination to estimate your fare to President Lincoln’s Cottage.
TIP: If you sign up for Uber through www.uber.com/go/honestabe , your first UberX, UberBlack, or UberSUV ride is FREE up to $20. For more information on using Uber, click here.
Taxi
State to your driver that you’re going to the Armed Forces Retirement Home (aka “Old Soldiers’ Home”) campus, Eagle Gate entrance. Use the following address: 140 Rock Creek Church Road, NW (intersection of Upshur Street, NW and Rock Creek Church Road, NW).
TIP: Please make certain your cab driver does not try to use the 3700 N. Capitol Street mailing address–it is not an entrance.
