President Lincoln's Cottage

During his time as president, Abraham Lincoln spent a significant amount of time at the Soldiers' Home, now known as President Lincoln's Cottage. On his commute to and from the White House and the Soldiers' Home, Lincoln witnessed the devastating effects of the Civil War and formulated many of the opinions that would become his policy and speeches. Most notably, while at the Cottage, Lincoln composed much of the Emancipation Proclamation.

Lincoln's Cottage opened to the public in 2008, and before that in 2000 it was designated the President Lincoln and Soldiers' Home National Monument. The cottage sits on a hill overlooking the city, providing a unique perspective into how Lincoln saw the city below him in his time. A tour here walks visitors through Lincoln's formation for the Emancipation Proclamation, shows the house where he and his family resided and tells the history of the site.