Lincoln Log Cabin State Historic Site

🏆🏆🏆🏆🏆 Illinois History — The last home of Thomas and Sarah Bush Lincoln — Abraham Lincoln’s father and stepmother! The reconstructed 1840s cabin sits on the original foundation. Lincoln visited his parents here before leaving for Washington in 1861.

Visitor Information

About Lincoln Log Cabin

Lincoln Log Cabin State Historic Site in Coles County preserves the last home of Thomas and Sarah Bush Lincoln — Abraham Lincoln’s father and stepmother. The living history farm features a reconstructed two-room log cabin and 1840s farm buildings with costumed interpreters demonstrating pioneer life. Young Abe Lincoln visited his parents here regularly from his Springfield law practice.

Things to Do

Exploring the living history farm with costumed interpreters, touring the reconstructed log cabin, watching farm demonstrations (spinning, blacksmithing, cooking), and attending seasonal events including Civil War reenactments. Free admission.

About Lincoln Log Cabin

Lincoln Log Cabin State Historic Site near Charleston preserves the 1840s farmstead of Thomas and Sarah Bush Lincoln — Abraham Lincoln’s father and stepmother. The site features a reconstructed log cabin farmstead operated as a living history farm. Young Abe Lincoln grew up in this rural Illinois landscape before leaving for Springfield to practice law.

Things to Do

Touring the reconstructed 1840s farmstead, watching living history demonstrations (blacksmithing, farming, cooking), visiting the nearby Thomas Lincoln Cemetery, and experiencing frontier farm life as Lincoln knew it. Free admission.

Insider Tips

Lincoln’s parents’ home: This living history farm recreates the 1840s log cabin where Abraham Lincoln’s father Thomas and stepmother Sarah lived — Lincoln visited here regularly. Pro tip: Costumed interpreters perform daily farm tasks — cooking, gardening, livestock chores — as they were done in the 1840s. Authenticity: The farm uses heritage livestock breeds and heirloom crop varieties that would have been grown in Lincoln’s time.

Best Time to Visit

Summer: Most activities on the working farm. Fall: Harvest season demonstrations. Spring: Planting season. Year-round: Interpreters are present most days.

Frequently Asked Questions

Did Abraham Lincoln live here?

Lincoln visited but did not live here permanently — this was his father Thomas Lincoln’s last home (1837-1851). Abraham Lincoln lived in Springfield and visited his parents here. Thomas and Sarah Lincoln are buried nearby. The site provides insight into the frontier farming life that shaped young Abraham Lincoln.

Wildlife & Nature

Lincoln Log Cabin State Historic Site in Coles County preserves the last home of Thomas and Sarah Bush Lincoln — Abraham Lincoln’s father and stepmother. The reconstructed 1840s farmstead — built on the original foundation — shows the modest frontier life that Abraham Lincoln left behind when he moved to Springfield to practice law. Thomas Lincoln farmed 120 acres here until his death in 1851. Sarah Bush Lincoln — who Abraham called “my angel mother” — lived here until her death in 1869. The 86-acre site includes a living history farm with costumed interpreters, heritage breed livestock, and period gardens. The surrounding Coles County prairie-woodland mosaic supports white-tailed deer, eastern wild turkeys, and red-tailed hawks. Indigo buntings — brilliant blue songbirds — sing from fence rows.

Nearby Attractions

Charleston — home of Eastern Illinois University — hosted a Lincoln-Douglas debate (September 18, 1858). Fox Ridge State Park offers forested ravine hiking along the Embarras River. Mattoon — a railroad town — has the Bagelfest celebration. Shiloh Cemetery — where Thomas Lincoln is buried. Arcola — the “Broomcorn Capital” and home to Rockome Gardens. Arthur — center of Illinois’ largest Amish community. Lincoln Trail State Park is nearby.