The Lincoln Home National Historic Site in Springfield, Illinois

The Lincoln Home National Historic Site in Springfield, Illinois is dedicated to the preservation of the home Abraham Lincoln live in from 1844 through 1886. Lincoln lived in the home before being elected the 16th president of the United States, the memorial includes a four-block historical district that surrounds the two-story, twelve room home and includes a visitor center. The site is located at the corner of Eighth and Jackson Streets, the home was purchased by the Lincolns in 1844 and is the only home Lincoln ever owned.

The Lincolns originally purchased the home and additional land for the sum of $1,200 from the Reverend Charles Dresser, who also performed their marriage ceremony in 1842. The original home site was much smaller; however the Lincoln family expanded the home in 1856, to meet the needs of their growing family. At the museum, there is a replica showing how the home looked when it was first purchased. The home is done in a Greek-revival style and was painted white with green shutters, the home has since been restored to the original appearance it had in 1860.

The home served as the primary residence for Lincoln during his years as a lawyer and state representative. In the home, his four sons Robert Todd, Edward Baker, William Wallace, and Thomas "Tad'' were born. Lincoln spent seventeen years in the home and it was here he received the news about his nomination to the presidency, after the nomination the home became a magnet for visitors, there were many rallies and parades held and Lincoln staged a farewell reception at the home in 1861, before leaving for Washington, D.C.

The museum contains artifacts relating to the life, legacy, family and home of Abraham Lincoln. There are over 457,000 artifacts in the entire collection and there are 100 items directly correlating to the Lincoln family. There are tours available provided by the National Park Service of Illinois and guests are also invited to take personal tours. The four-block complex consists of the Arnold House, Dean House Exhibit, Lincoln Home and Visitor Center.

The Lincoln Home and Lincoln Tomb were both declared National Historical Landmarks on December 19th, 1960, and were automatically included on the National Register of Historic Places on October 15th, 1966. On August 18th, 1971, the home and four blocks surrounding the home became a National Historic Site. The house was donated to the state of Illinois by Robert Todd Lincoln, and as a stipulation in his will the house is to be maintained as a museum and be free of charge to the visiting public. Today, the home and surrounding area is a popular tourist draw, the home is opened every day and free tickets are available on a first-come-first-serve basis.